--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Gaze not on beauty too much, lest it…" description: "\"Gaze not on beauty too much, lest it blast thee; nor too long, lest it blind thee; nor too near, lest it burn thee. If thou like it, it deceives thee; ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/169/francis-quarles-1740_accompany_gaze-not-on-beauty-too-much-lest-it-blas_1645324.png" --- # Gaze not on beauty too much, lest it blast thee; nor too… ![“Gaze not on beauty too much, lest it blast thee; nor too long, lest it blind thee; nor too near, lest it burn thee. If thou like it, it deceives thee; if thou love it, it disturbs thee; if thou hunt after it, it destroys thee. If virtue accompany it, it is the heart's paradise; if vice associate…” quote by Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/169/francis-quarles-1740_accompany_gaze-not-on-beauty-too-much-lest-it-blas_1645324.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/169/francis-quarles-1740_accompany_gaze-not-on-beauty-too-much-lest-it-blas_1645324.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/169/francis-quarles-1740_accompany_gaze-not-on-beauty-too-much-lest-it-blas_1645324.png) > “Gaze not on beauty too much, lest it blast thee; nor too long, lest it blind thee; nor too near, lest it burn thee. If thou like it, it deceives thee; if thou love it, it disturbs thee; if thou hunt after it, it destroys thee. If virtue accompany it, it is the heart's paradise; if vice associate it, it is the soul's purgatory. It is the wise man's bonfire, and the fool's furnace.” [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Beauty can be intoxicating but also dangerous; it can mislead, distract, or harm if pursued without virtue. **In simple terms:** Beauty can mislead and hurt. Key Takeaway Seek virtue over vanity. Themes beauty virtue danger wisdom desire Mood cautious reflective Type advisory philosophical When to use this quote - Romantic relationships - art appreciation - career advancement - personal growth Key Concepts Moral philosophy human nature Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance admiration with caution? - What virtues protect you from being blinded by allure? A Different Perspective Even beautiful things can cause harm if not tempered by moral character. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accompany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accompany/) [Associates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/associates/) [Beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beauty/) [Beauty Lest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beauty-lest-602863/) [Blast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blast/) [Blind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blind/) [Bonfire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bonfire/) [Deceiving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deceiving/) [Fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fool/) [Furnaces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/furnaces/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Hunts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hunts/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Paradise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paradise/) [Purgatory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purgatory/) [Purgatory Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purgatory-wise-602864/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Thee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thee/) [Thou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thou/) [Too long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-long/) [Too much](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-much/) [Vices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vices/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) [Virtue Accompany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue-accompany-602865/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/) ## Related quotes > [If virtue accompany it, it is the heart's paradise; if vice associate it, it is the soul's purgatory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/if-virtue-accompany-it-it-is-the-heart-s-paradise-if-vice-associate/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [When our faith is tested by suffering "as gold is tried in a furnace" and we depend with confidence on God and rely entirely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/when-our-faith-is-tested-by-suffering-as-gold-is-tried-in-a-furnace/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [He is The Bread sown in the virgin, leavened in the Flesh, molded in His Passion, baked in the furnace of the Sepulchre, placed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-chrysologus/he-is-the-bread-sown-in-the-virgin-leavened-in-the-flesh-molded-in/) [Peter Chrysologus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-chrysologus/) > [The particular source of frustration of women observing their own self-study and measuring their worth as women by the distance they kept from men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-theroux/the-particular-source-of-frustration-of-women-observing-their-own/) [Alexander Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-theroux/) > [Wealth is nothing more or less than a tool to do things with. It is like the fuel that runs the furnace or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/wealth-is-nothing-more-or-less-than-a-tool-to-do-things-with-it-is/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [To have meaning, our lives require both passion and purpose. A life without passion is like a furnace without fuel, and without purpose, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mardy-grothe/to-have-meaning-our-lives-require-both-passion-and-purpose-a-life/) [Mardy Grothe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mardy-grothe/) > [I could never fear a God who kept a hell prison-house. No, not though he flung me there because I refused. There is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-anthony-froude/i-could-never-fear-a-god-who-kept-a-hell-prison-house-no-not-though/) [James Anthony Froude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-anthony-froude/) > [A good friend and a bad friend are like a perfume-seller and a blacksmith: The perfume-seller might give you some perfume as a gift,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad/a-good-friend-and-a-bad-friend-are-like-a-perfume-seller-and-a/) [Muhammad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad/) > [In Middle America men are awakening. Like awkward and untrained boys we begin to turn toward maturity and with our awakening we hunger for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwood-anderson/in-middle-america-men-are-awakening-like-awkward-and-untrained-boys/) [Sherwood Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwood-anderson/) > [I made a tin man costume with tin foil and furnace parts because I thought it would help me be more heartless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-dzama/i-made-a-tin-man-costume-with-tin-foil-and-furnace-parts-because-i/) [Marcel Dzama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-dzama/) > [To throw the Christian into the furnace is to put him into Christ's parlor; for lo! Jesus Christ is walking with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/to-throw-the-christian-into-the-furnace-is-to-put-him-into-christ-s/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [O, what I owe to the file, the hammer, and the furnace of the Lord Jesus! I know that he is no idle husbandman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-rutherford/o-what-i-owe-to-the-file-the-hammer-and-the-furnace-of-the-lord-jesus/) [Samuel Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-rutherford/) > [How many voices have escaped you until now, the venting furnace, the floorboards underfoot, the steady accusations of the clock numbering the minutes no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gioia/how-many-voices-have-escaped-you-until-now-the-venting-furnace-the/) [Dana Gioia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gioia/) > [They have given their sons to the military services. They have stoked the furnaces and hurried the factory wheels. They have made the planes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/they-have-given-their-sons-to-the-military-services-they-have-stoked/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [Every man will have his own criterion in forming his judgment of others. I depend very much on the effect of affliction. I consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cecil/every-man-will-have-his-own-criterion-in-forming-his-judgment-of/) [Richard Cecil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cecil/) ## More by Francis Quarles > [Be neither too early in the fashion, nor too long out of it, nor too precisely in it; what custom hath civilized is become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/be-neither-too-early-in-the-fashion-nor-too-long-out-of-it-nor-too/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [The World's a Printing-House, our words, our thoughts, Our deeds, are characters of several sizes. Each soul is a Compos'tor, of whose faults The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/the-world-s-a-printing-house-our-words-our-thoughts-our-deeds-are/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Luxury is an enticing pleasure, a bastard mirth, which hath honey in her mouth, gall in her heart, and a sting in her tail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/luxury-is-an-enticing-pleasure-a-bastard-mirth-which-hath-honey-in/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Deliberate long before thou consecrate a friend, and when thy impartial justice concludes him worthy of thy bosom, receive him joyfully, and entertain him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/deliberate-long-before-thou-consecrate-a-friend-and-when-thy/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [What treasures here do Mammon's sons behold! Yet know that all that which glitters is not gold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/what-treasures-here-do-mammon-s-sons-behold-yet-know-that-all-that/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Meditation is the life of the soul: Action, the soul of meditation; and honor the reward of action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/meditation-is-the-life-of-the-soul-action-the-soul-of-meditation-and/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [The world is deceitful; her end is doubtful, her conclusion is horrible, her judge terrible, and her judgment is intolerable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/the-world-is-deceitful-her-end-is-doubtful-her-conclusion-is-horrible/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [I wish thee as much pleasure in the reading, as I had in the writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/i-wish-thee-as-much-pleasure-in-the-reading-as-i-had-in-the-writing/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [The suburbs of folly is vain mirth, and profuseness of laughter is the city of fools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/the-suburbs-of-folly-is-vain-mirth-and-profuseness-of-laughter-is-the/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [The fountain of beauty is the heart and every generous thought illustrates the walls of your chamber.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/the-fountain-of-beauty-is-the-heart-and-every-generous-thought/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [The strong desires of man's insatiate breast may stand possess'd Of all that earth can give; but earth can give no rest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/the-strong-desires-of-man-s-insatiate-breast-may-stand-possess-d-of/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Knowledge descries; wisdom applies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/knowledge-descries-wisdom-applies/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [In all thy actions think God sees thee; and in all His actions labor to see Him; that will make thee fear Him; this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/in-all-thy-actions-think-god-sees-thee-and-in-all-his-actions-labor/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Rather do what is nothing to the purpose than be idle; that the devil may find thee doing. The bird that sits is easily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/rather-do-what-is-nothing-to-the-purpose-than-be-idle-that-the-devil/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Read not books alone, but men, and amongst them chiefly thyself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/read-not-books-alone-but-men-and-amongst-them-chiefly-thyself/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) [Explore all 212 Francis Quarles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) ## More Accompany quotes > [One must accept the fact that we have only one companion in this world, a companion who accompanies us from the cradle to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/one-must-accept-the-fact-that-we-have-only-one-companion-in-this/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-millett/the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imposition-of-male-authority/) [Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-millett/) > [We may... affirm that the balance of power in a society accompanies the balance of property in land. The only possible way, then, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/we-may-affirm-that-the-balance-of-power-in-a-society-accompanies-the/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [Satire must always accompany any free society. It is an absolute necessity. Even in the most repressive medieval kingdoms, they understood the need for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-randazzo/satire-must-always-accompany-any-free-society-it-is-an-absolute/) [Joe Randazzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-randazzo/) > [But down the bagagge, take of the blinders, and see for yourself that this very place is the valley of the endless spring, this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-daido-loori/but-down-the-bagagge-take-of-the-blinders-and-see-for-yourself-that/) [John Daido Loori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-daido-loori/) > [It is not God's way that great blessings should descend without the sacrifice first of great sufferings. If the truth is to be spread…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-newman/it-is-not-god-s-way-that-great-blessings-should-descend-without-the/) [John Henry Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-newman/) > [In transmitting the dharma, there is neither explanation nor teaching; there is neighter hearing nor attainment. Since explanations never really explains, nor are they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-daido-loori/in-transmitting-the-dharma-there-is-neither-explanation-nor-teaching/) [John Daido Loori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-daido-loori/) > [Lead the ideas of your time and they will accompany and support you; fall behind them and they drag you along with them; oppose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/lead-the-ideas-of-your-time-and-they-will-accompany-and-support-you/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [Freedom is based on the anarch’s awareness that he can kill himself. He carries this awareness around; it accompanies him like a shadow that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernst-junger/freedom-is-based-on-the-anarch-s-awareness-that-he-can-kill-himself/) [Ernst Junger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernst-junger/) > [There is an unmistakable freedom that accompanies contentment: a freedom to be who you are, enjoy who you are, and live the life you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-becker/there-is-an-unmistakable-freedom-that-accompanies-contentment-a/) [Josh Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-becker/) > [The greatest grossness sometimes accompanies the greatest refinement, as a natural relief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/the-greatest-grossness-sometimes-accompanies-the-greatest-refinement/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [Those who choose, conduct, present, and accompany the music may influence the spirit of reverence ... more than a speaker does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boyd-k-packer/those-who-choose-conduct-present-and-accompany-the-music-may/) [Boyd K. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boyd-k-packer/) > [“Loneliness why do you accompany me if I wish to be alone?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-alexandre-ribeiro-branco/loneliness-why-do-you-accompany-me-if-i-wish-to-be-alone/) [Luis Alexandre Ribeiro Branco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-alexandre-ribeiro-branco/) > [Most of my books are set in the American Midwest, where I have always lived. Midwesterners are lovely, down-to-earth people. The luxury of choosing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-michaels/most-of-my-books-are-set-in-the-american-midwest-where-i-have-always/) [Leigh Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-michaels/) > [Modesty should accompany youth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plautus/modesty-should-accompany-youth/) [Plautus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plautus/) [Browse all 285 Accompany quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accompany/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Gaze not on beauty too much, lest it blast thee; nor too long, lest it blind thee; nor too near, lest it burn thee. If thou like it, it deceives thee; if thou love it, it disturbs thee; if thou hunt after it, it destroys thee. If virtue accompany it, it is the heart's paradise; if vice associate it, it is the soul's purgatory. It is the wise man's bonfire, and the fool's furnace.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Francis Quarles" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/gaze-not-on-beauty-too-much-lest-it-blast-thee-nor-too-long-lest-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accompany" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/gaze-not-on-beauty-too-much-lest-it-blast-thee-nor-too-long-lest-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/169/francis-quarles-1740_accompany_gaze-not-on-beauty-too-much-lest-it-blas_1645324.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/169/francis-quarles-1740_accompany_gaze-not-on-beauty-too-much-lest-it-blas_1645324.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/169/francis-quarles-1740_accompany_gaze-not-on-beauty-too-much-lest-it-blas_1645324.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Gaze not on beauty too much, lest it blast thee; nor too long, lest it blind thee; nor too near, lest it…” — Francis Quarles", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Francis Quarles", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Gaze not on beauty too much,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/gaze-not-on-beauty-too-much-lest-it-blast-thee-nor-too-long-lest-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/gaze-not-on-beauty-too-much-lest-it-blast-thee-nor-too-long-lest-it/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```