--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The ancients called beauty the flowering…" description: "\"The ancients called beauty the flowering of virtue.\" — Ralph Waldo Emerson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f7/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_beauty_the-ancients-called-beauty-the-flowering_1920089.png" --- # The ancients called beauty the flowering of virtue. ![“The ancients called beauty the flowering of virtue.” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f7/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_beauty_the-ancients-called-beauty-the-flowering_1920089.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f7/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_beauty_the-ancients-called-beauty-the-flowering_1920089.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f7/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_beauty_the-ancients-called-beauty-the-flowering_1920089.png) > “The ancients called beauty the flowering of virtue.” [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Beauty is portrayed as the outward expression of inner moral excellence. **In simple terms:** Beauty reflects inner virtue. Key Takeaway Cultivate virtue to embody beauty. Themes virtue beauty morality Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - personal development - leadership - art criticism - education - public speaking Key Concepts aesthetics ethical expression Questions to Reflect On - How does inner character shape external perception? - Can beauty exist without moral substance? A Different Perspective Beauty may be superficial without genuine virtue. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beauty/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Flowering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flowering/) [Flowers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flowers/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) ## Related quotes > [Passion, that thing of beauty, that flowering without roots, has to be born, live and die without reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-leblanc/passion-that-thing-of-beauty-that-flowering-without-roots-has-to-be/) [Georgette Leblanc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-leblanc/) > [The Fremen were supreme in that quality the ancients called "spannungsbogen" -- which is the self-imposed delay between desire for a thing and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/the-fremen-were-supreme-in-that-quality-the-ancients-called/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [“Within this Mine two Stones of old were found, Were this the Ancients called Holy Ground; Who knew their Value, Power and Extent, And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-van-der-gucht/within-this-mine-two-stones-of-old-were-found-were-this-the-ancients/) Michael van der Gucht > [I have witnessed things the ancients would have called miracles, but they are not miracles. They are the products of someone's dream, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whoopi-goldberg/i-have-witnessed-things-the-ancients-would-have-called-miracles-but/) [Whoopi Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whoopi-goldberg/) > [“When it warms your heart, make you smile, and stare a little longer. It’s called beauty and it sure is beautiful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-queen-of-beauty/when-it-warms-your-heart-make-you-smile-and-stare-a-little-longer-it/) A Queen of Beauty > [I discover in my experiential space evidence for the wrongness of solipsism, and this evidence is called beauty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-morton/i-discover-in-my-experiential-space-evidence-for-the-wrongness-of/) [Timothy Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-morton/) > [I always thought I had crooked eyebrows and crooked teeth. That's why I never understood why people called me a beauty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-bacall/i-always-thought-i-had-crooked-eyebrows-and-crooked-teeth-that-s-why/) [Lauren Bacall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-bacall/) > [“I did not tremble to lose what men called beauty, but I feared the loss of my spirit and humor and love of living,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-liss/i-did-not-tremble-to-lose-what-men-called-beauty-but-i-feared-the/) [David Liss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-liss/) > [I have a book out called 'The Beauty Equation' and it discusses how off track we have gone in considering beauty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-barker/i-have-a-book-out-called-the-beauty-equation-and-it-discusses-how-off/) [Nigel Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-barker/) > [The world, which the Greeks called Beauty, has been made such by being gradually divested of every ornament which was not fitted to endure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-world-which-the-greeks-called-beauty-has-been-made-such-by-being/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Why is it called beauty sleep, when you wake up in the morning and look like crap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brii-ann/why-is-it-called-beauty-sleep-when-you-wake-up-in-the-morning-and/) [Brii Ann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brii-ann/) > [The flowering of civilization is the finished man, the man of sense, of grace, of accomplishment, of social power--the gentleman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-flowering-of-civilization-is-the-finished-man-the-man-of-sense-of/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [In the morning a man walks with his whole body; in the evening, only with his legs. RALPH WALDO EMERSON, Journals and Miscellaneous Notebooks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/in-the-morning-a-man-walks-with-his-whole-body-in-the-evening-only-2/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Greek architecture is the flowering of geometry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/greek-architecture-is-the-flowering-of-geometry/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Each bud flowers but once and each flower has but its minute of perfect beauty; so, in the garden of the soul each feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-frederic-amiel/each-bud-flowers-but-once-and-each-flower-has-but-its-minute-of/) [Henri Frederic Amiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-frederic-amiel/) ## More by Ralph Waldo Emerson > [The history of mankind interests us only as it exhibits a steady gain of truth and right, in the incessant conflict which it records…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-history-of-mankind-interests-us-only-as-it-exhibits-a-steady-gain/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If we will not interfere with our thought, but will act entirely, or see how the thing stands in God, we know the particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-we-will-not-interfere-with-our-thought-but-will-act-entirely-or/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A man cannot speak but he judges himself. With his will or against his will he draws his portrait to the eye of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-cannot-speak-but-he-judges-himself-with-his-will-or-against-his/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Consideration is the soil in which wisdom may be expected to grow, and strength be given to every up-springing plant of duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/consideration-is-the-soil-in-which-wisdom-may-be-expected-to-grow-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“There is then creative reading as well as creative writing. When the mind is braced by labor and invention, the page of whatever book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/there-is-then-creative-reading-as-well-as-creative-writing-when-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The order of things consents to virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-order-of-things-consents-to-virtue/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Life only avails, not the having lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/life-only-avails-not-the-having-lived/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Another success is the post-office, with its educating energy augmented by cheapness and guarded by a certain religious sentimentin mankind; so that the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/another-success-is-the-post-office-with-its-educating-energy/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A child reminds us that playtime is an essential part of our daily routine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-child-reminds-us-that-playtime-is-an-essential-part-of-our-daily/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [No man can be criticised but by a greater than he. Do not, then, read the reviews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/no-man-can-be-criticised-but-by-a-greater-than-he-do-not-then-read/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Coal lay in ledges under the ground since the Flood, until a laborer with pick and windlass brings it to the surface. We may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/coal-lay-in-ledges-under-the-ground-since-the-flood-until-a-laborer/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I am; therefore, I had nothing better to do than to think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/i-am-therefore-i-had-nothing-better-to-do-than-to-think/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [In a library we are surrounded by many hundreds of dear friends, but they are imprisoned by an enchanter in these paper and leathern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/in-a-library-we-are-surrounded-by-many-hundreds-of-dear-friends-but/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The compensations of calamity are made apparent to the understanding also, after long intervals of time. A fever, a mutilation, a cruel disappointment, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-compensations-of-calamity-are-made-apparent-to-the-understanding/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) [Explore all 4,802 Ralph Waldo Emerson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## More Beauty quotes > [We do not want nowadays temples of worship and outward rites and ceremonies. What we really want is an Asram. We want a place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/we-do-not-want-nowadays-temples-of-worship-and-outward-rites-and/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [How could anybody confuse truth with beauty, I thought as I looked at him. Truth came with sunken eyes, bony or scarred, decayed. Its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-fitch/how-could-anybody-confuse-truth-with-beauty-i-thought-as-i-looked-at/) [Janet Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-fitch/) > [A thing of beauty is a joy for ever;It's loveliness increase;it will never pass into nothingness;but still will keep a bower quiet for us,and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/a-thing-of-beauty-is-a-joy-for-ever-it-s-loveliness-increase-it-will/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [To fathom the power, to witness the beauty, to bathe in the fountain, to swing on the spiral of our divinity, and still be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tool/to-fathom-the-power-to-witness-the-beauty-to-bathe-in-the-fountain-to/) [Tool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tool/) > [The term "black metal" has become a lot looser, or can include a larger range of sounds and extra-musical aesthetics, not just Satan and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-marston/the-term-black-metal-has-become-a-lot-looser-or-can-include-a-larger/) [Colin Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-marston/) > [“We've all met people who are beautiful on the outside, however, when they open their mouths to speak, they have nothing of substance to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/we-ve-all-met-people-who-are-beautiful-on-the-outside-however-when/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [There are various orders of beauty, causing men to make fools of themselves in various styles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/there-are-various-orders-of-beauty-causing-men-to-make-fools-of/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [To me, the beauty of a quilt or a dress lies within the stitches and the thought of the person who made them. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie/to-me-the-beauty-of-a-quilt-or-a-dress-lies-within-the-stitches-and/) [Natalie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie/) > [“do not misunderstand person by beauty You really do not know its real or Mask on dirty thoughts”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-zaki-ansari/do-not-misunderstand-person-by-beauty-you-really-do-not-know-its-real/) [Mohammed Zaki Ansari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-zaki-ansari/) > [“I already love in you your beauty, but I am only beginning to love in you that which is eternal and ever precious –…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/i-already-love-in-you-your-beauty-but-i-am-only-beginning-to-love-in/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [The more perfect the sight is the more delightful the beautiful object. The more perfect the appetite, the sweeter the food. The more musical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/the-more-perfect-the-sight-is-the-more-delightful-the-beautiful/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [Call her beautiful a million times and she won't believe you. Call her ugly once, and she will never forget it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tumblr/call-her-beautiful-a-million-times-and-she-won-t-believe-you-call-her/) Tumblr > [Time can but make her beauty over again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/time-can-but-make-her-beauty-over-again/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [ The social \[media channel\] isn't about beauty contests and popularity contests. They're a distortion, a caricature of the real thing. It's about trust, connection,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umair-haque/the-social-media-channel-isn-t-about-beauty-contests-and-popularity/) [Umair Haque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umair-haque/) > [“What about you? What do you do?” I needed to ask questions, draw him out. I needed to find out all the information I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-avery-ellison/what-about-you-what-do-you-do-i-needed-to-ask-questions-draw-him-out/) [Kate Avery Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-avery-ellison/) [Browse all 24,662 Beauty quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beauty/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The ancients called beauty the flowering of virtue.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ralph Waldo Emerson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-ancients-called-beauty-the-flowering-of-virtue/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Beauty" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-ancients-called-beauty-the-flowering-of-virtue/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f7/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_beauty_the-ancients-called-beauty-the-flowering_1920089.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f7/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_beauty_the-ancients-called-beauty-the-flowering_1920089.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f7/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_beauty_the-ancients-called-beauty-the-flowering_1920089.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The ancients called beauty the flowering of virtue.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ralph Waldo Emerson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The ancients called beauty the flowering...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-ancients-called-beauty-the-flowering-of-virtue/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-ancients-called-beauty-the-flowering-of-virtue/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```