Beauty Quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Personal beauty is then first charming and itself, when it dissatisfies us with any end; when it becomes a story without an end; when it suggests gleams and visions, and not earthly satisfactions; when it makes the beholder feel his unworthiness; when he cannot feel his right to it, though he were Caesar; he cannot feel more right to it than to the firmament and the splendors of a sunset.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Self-Reliance, 1841
True beauty is fleeting and incomplete, causing feelings of inadequacy and yearning for something higher than earthly pleasures.
In simple terms: Beauty is fleeting, causing longing.
Key Takeaway
Find value beyond superficial beauty.
Themes
beauty
longing
self-worth
spirituality
Mood
thoughtful
inspirational
Type
philosophical
reflective
When to use this quote
- art criticism
- personal growth
- spiritual practice
- writing
Key Concepts
philosophical
existential
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you appreciate beauty without feeling unworthy?
- What higher purpose can replace fleeting beauty?
A Different Perspective
Focusing on beauty can lead to perpetual dissatisfaction.
