--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is an aesthetic dimension to…" description: "\"“There is an aesthetic dimension to virtue. In real life, as opposed to in celluloid, we are attracted to the good and repelled by the bad. Even the wo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e76/john-dickson-53372_attraction_there-is-an-aesthetic-dimension-to-virtu_1198877.jpg" --- # There is an aesthetic dimension to virtue. In real life… ![“There is an aesthetic dimension to virtue. In real life, as opposed to in celluloid, we are attracted to the good and repelled by the bad. Even the woman who says she prefers the archetypal 'bad boy' probably doesn't actually like it when he is bad toward her.” quote by John Dickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e76/john-dickson-53372_attraction_there-is-an-aesthetic-dimension-to-virtu_1198877.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e76/john-dickson-53372_attraction_there-is-an-aesthetic-dimension-to-virtu_1198877.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e76/john-dickson-53372_attraction_there-is-an-aesthetic-dimension-to-virtu_1198877.jpg) > ““There is an aesthetic dimension to virtue. In real life, as opposed to in celluloid, we are attracted to the good and repelled by the bad. Even the woman who says she prefers the archetypal 'bad boy' probably doesn't actually like it when he is bad toward her.”” [John Dickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dickson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Virtue has an aesthetic appeal; people are drawn to goodness and repelled by true badness, even if they claim attraction to a 'bad boy' archetype. **In simple terms:** Goodness looks attractive, real badness repels. Key Takeaway Seek authentic virtue, not harmful stereotypes. Themes virtue attraction authenticity gender dynamics Mood reflective critical thoughtful Type philosophical social commentary relationship advice When to use this quote - dating - media consumption - personal relationships - self‑development Key Concepts aesthetic appeal psychology of attraction social perception Questions to Reflect On - Do you distinguish between romanticized 'bad' traits and genuine harmful behavior? - How does media shape your view of virtue? A Different Perspective People may misinterpret harmful behavior as appealing, leading to poor choices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attraction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attraction/) [Bad boy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-boy/) [Bad boys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-boys/) [Beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beauty/) [Celluloid Attracted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/celluloid-attracted-3587238/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Dimension Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dimension-virtue-3587241/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Opposed Celluloid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposed-celluloid-3587240/) [Real life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-life/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) [Virtue Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue-real-3587239/) ## Related quotes > [No virtue can be real that has not been tried. The gold in the crucible alone is perfect; the loadstone tests the steel, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro-calder-n-de-la-barca/no-virtue-can-be-real-that-has-not-been-tried-the-gold-in-the/) [Pedro Calderon de la Barca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro-calder-n-de-la-barca/) > [“What I’m not confident in is my ability to resist what Cash isn’t even trying to hide. He’s interested in me. And not just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-leighton/what-i-m-not-confident-in-is-my-ability-to-resist-what-cash-isn-t/) [M. Leighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-leighton/) > [His voice was low and rough … “What about you? Do you like bad boys?” “There’s definitely appeal,” she breathed. “Good,” He bent and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larissa-ione/his-voice-was-low-and-rough-what-about-you-do-you-like-bad-boys-there/) [Larissa Ione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larissa-ione/) > [Girls liking bad boys is the cookie jar complex. When somebody tells you you can't have a cookie, you want a cookie. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-connick-jr/girls-liking-bad-boys-is-the-cookie-jar-complex-when-somebody-tells/) [Harry Connick, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-connick-jr/) > [Women with low self-esteem love bad boys. Women who have work to do love bad boys. Women who love themselves love good men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-mcmillan/women-with-low-self-esteem-love-bad-boys-women-who-have-work-to-do/) [Tracy McMillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-mcmillan/) > [Some girls go for bad boys because they like the challenge of changing them - which is usually unrealistic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-salling/some-girls-go-for-bad-boys-because-they-like-the-challenge-of/) [Mark Salling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-salling/) > [“I think it’s the whole ‘bad boy who’s so good but destined to break your heart’ fantasy. 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I think when it comes to bad boys, girls/women have this desire to step forward and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lacey-weatherford/what-girl-doesn-t-love-the-tortured-bad-boy-i-think-when-it-comes-to/) [Lacey Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lacey-weatherford/) > [“Bad boys, bad boys, whatcha gonna do, watcha gonna do when they cut your wiener,” Gavin sang as he pointed his gun at random…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-sivec/bad-boys-bad-boys-whatcha-gonna-do-watcha-gonna-do-when-they-cut-your/) [Tara Sivec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-sivec/) > [“Can you believe how ridiculous they are? The girls here are shameless," America said. Finch shook his head in awe. "It's Travis. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/can-you-believe-how-ridiculous-they-are-the-girls-here-are-shameless/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [“If there was a bad guy we could appeal to the people because, like it or not, we, the huddled masses, want our public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-carter/if-there-was-a-bad-guy-we-could-appeal-to-the-people-because-like-it/) [Bill Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-carter/) > [“I looked down at the doors of the forbidden Dorms and studiously examined the bulletin boards covered with incomprehensible information about events and rules…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piper-kerman/i-looked-down-at-the-doors-of-the-forbidden-dorms-and-studiously/) [Piper Kerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piper-kerman/) ## More by John Dickson > [“In a morally and religiously diverse culture such as ours, humility is a much-needed key to harmony.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dickson/in-a-morally-and-religiously-diverse-culture-such-as-ours-humility-is/) [John Dickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dickson/) > [“Atheism certainly promotes a low view of humanity- how much lower can you get than thinking yourself an accidental by-product of a series of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dickson/atheism-certainly-promotes-a-low-view-of-humanity-how-much-lower-can/) [John Dickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dickson/) > [“pilot announced the problem and added, “There are four of us but only three parachutes. 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By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [You cannot perceive what you are not in the vibration of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-anka/you-cannot-perceive-what-you-are-not-in-the-vibration-of/) [Darryl Anka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-anka/) > [What the Laws of Attraction are really about; how to harness the power of creation within you to make life what you truly desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/what-the-laws-of-attraction-are-really-about-how-to-harness-the-power/) [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) > [You are the one who calls the law of attraction into action, and you do it through your thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-byrne/you-are-the-one-who-calls-the-law-of-attraction-into-action-and-you/) [Rhonda Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-byrne/) > [The vast majority of people are born, grow up, struggle and go through life in misery and failure, not realizing that it would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-vast-majority-of-people-are-born-grow-up-struggle-and-go-through/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [You don't have to say it out loud. I already know why you like me.' 'You do, huh?' 'Yep.' He wrapped his arms around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/you-don-t-have-to-say-it-out-loud-i-already-know-why-you-like-me-you/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [You don't have to be Sigmund Freud to surmise that war has a perverse appeal for the human race, nor is the attraction limited…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-willis/you-don-t-have-to-be-sigmund-freud-to-surmise-that-war-has-a-perverse/) [Ellen Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-willis/) > [It doesn't matter if they say you can't do it. 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The universe will manifest it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-byrne/focus-on-being-grateful-for-what-you-have-already-enjoy-it-then/) [Rhonda Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-byrne/) > [I want to remind priests that the confessional must not be a torture chamber but rather an encounter with the Lord’s mercy which spurs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-want-to-remind-priests-that-the-confessional-must-not-be-a-torture/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [All of my work is meant to evoke a whole bunch of different layers of discord between the attraction and repulsion that we feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-jordan/all-of-my-work-is-meant-to-evoke-a-whole-bunch-of-different-layers-of/) [Chris Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-jordan/) > [War is thus divine in itself, since it is a law of the world. War is divine through its consequences of a supernatural nature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-de-maistre/war-is-thus-divine-in-itself-since-it-is-a-law-of-the-world-war-is/) [Joseph de Maistre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-de-maistre/) > [As your awareness of the riches available to you in your everyday life grows, you are on the way to becoming the laughing Buddha.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jeffers/as-your-awareness-of-the-riches-available-to-you-in-your-everyday/) [Susan Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jeffers/) [Browse all 2,005 Attraction quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attraction/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“There is an aesthetic dimension to virtue. In real life, as opposed to in celluloid, we are attracted to the good and repelled by the bad. 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