Beautiful mind Quote by Plato
““he who would proceed in due course should love first one fair form, and then many, and learn the connexion of them; and from beautiful bodies he should proceed to beautiful minds, and the beauty of laws and institutions, until he perceives that all beauty is of one kindred; and from institutions he should go on to the sciences, until at last the vision is revealed to him of a single science of universal beauty, and then he will behold the everlasting nature which is the cause of all, and will be near the end. In the contemplation of that supreme being of love he will be purified of earthly leaven, and will behold beauty, not with the bodily eye, but with the eye of the mind, and will bring forth true creations of virtue and wisdom,””
About This Quote
Source Book: Republic, Plato, c. 380 BC
The passage describes a progressive ascent from appreciating physical beauty to recognizing a unified, universal beauty in truth and virtue, culminating in spiritual purification.
In simple terms: Beauty leads from form to truth and wisdom.
Key Takeaway
Seek deeper understanding beyond appearances.
Themes
philosophy
beauty
spirituality
education
Mood
reflective
inspired
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- art criticism
- academic study
- personal meditation
- ethical decision making
Key Concepts
Platonic idealism
hierarchy of forms
universal truth
Questions to Reflect On
- How can one balance appreciation of beauty with everyday responsibilities?
- What practices help cultivate the “eye of the mind”?
A Different Perspective
May overlook practical concerns in favor of abstract ideals.
![“...when he looks at Beauty in the only way that Beauty can be seen - only then will it become possible for him to give birth not to images of virtue (because he's in touch with no images), but to true virtue [arete] (because he is in touch with true Beauty). The love of the gods belongs to anyone…” quote by Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f0f/plato-103_beauty_when-he-looks-at-beauty-in-the-only-way_509533.jpg)
