Beauty Quote by Harriet Prescott Spofford
““I'm not good, of course; I wouldn't give a fig to be good. So it's not vanity. It's on a far grander scale; a splendid selfishness, - authorized, too; and papa and mamma brought me up to worship beauty, -and there's the fifth commandment, you know.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Book of the Dead by Harriet Prescott Spofford, 1883
She dismisses conventional morality, embracing a grand, selfish pursuit of beauty as a higher calling.
In simple terms: She values beauty over moral goodness.
Key Takeaway
Pursue beauty boldly.
Themes
beauty
selfishness
individualism
Mood
defiant
reflective
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- art criticism
- personal development
- creative work
- ethical debates
Key Concepts
aestheticism
existentialism
Questions to Reflect On
- What does "splendid selfishness" mean to you?
- Can beauty justify moral compromise?
A Different Perspective
Such selfishness may harm others.
