Art Quote by Harlan Coben
““Her voice was polished with a hint of a New England-boarding-school accent that shouted refinement over geographic locale. I was trying not to stare. She saw that and smiled a little. I don't want to sound like some kind of pervert because it wasn't like that. Femal beauty gets to me. I don't think I'm alone in that. It gets to me like a work of art gets to me. It gets to me like a Rembrandt or Michelangelo. It gets to me like night views of Paris or when the sun rises on the Grand Canyon or sets in the turquoise Arizona sky. My thoughts were not illicit. Ther were, I self-rationalized, rather artistic.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Woods, Harlan Coben, 2007
The narrator describes an intense, almost artistic attraction to a woman's beauty, comparing it to great works of art and natural wonders, while wrestling with self‑consciousness about his perception.
In simple terms: He feels a deep, artistic admiration for a woman's beauty, fearing it might seem perverse.
Key Takeaway
Acknowledge admiration without judgment.
Themes
beauty
artistic perception
self‑consciousness
Mood
reflective
introspective
conflicted
Type
literary
personal
reflective
When to use this quote
- dating
- first impressions
- art criticism
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
aesthetic appreciation
objectification
cognitive dissonance
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we balance admiration with respect?
- When does appreciation become objectification?
A Different Perspective
The comparison may romanticize objectification, overlooking the woman's agency.
![“[She] was a remarkable looking woman. Remarkable in that she wasn’t what most people would call beautiful. But she oozed a raw femaleness that I was certain made most women uncomfortable and sent men walking into walls. And when she smiled. Well. That was magic.” quote by Beth Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f4c/beth-hoffman-5200_beauty_she-was-a-remarkable-looking-woman-remar_802196.jpg)
