--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The hand that rounded Peter's dome, And…" description: "\"The hand that rounded Peter's dome, And groined the aisles of Christian Rome, Wrought in a sad sincerity; Himself from God he could not free; He builde..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e6/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_aisle_the-hand-that-rounded-peter-s-dome-and-g_128735.png" --- # The hand that rounded Peter's dome, And groined the aisles… ![“The hand that rounded Peter's dome, And groined the aisles of Christian Rome, Wrought in a sad sincerity; Himself from God he could not free; He builded better than he knew: The conscious stone to beauty grew.” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e6/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_aisle_the-hand-that-rounded-peter-s-dome-and-g_128735.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e6/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_aisle_the-hand-that-rounded-peter-s-dome-and-g_128735.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e6/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_aisle_the-hand-that-rounded-peter-s-dome-and-g_128735.png) > “The hand that rounded Peter's dome, And groined the aisles of Christian Rome, Wrought in a sad sincerity; Himself from God he could not free; He builded better than he knew: The conscious stone to beauty grew.” [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. The poet reflects on a historical figure’s earnest but flawed attempts at beauty, suggesting human effort is both sincere and limited. **In simple terms:** Sincere effort can be flawed; beauty emerges imperfectly. Key Takeaway Accept imperfect sincerity in creation. Themes art history beauty human limitation Mood thoughtful reflective Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - creative projects - historical analysis Key Concepts aesthetics historical critique Practical Applications - embrace honest effort - recognize limits Questions to Reflect On - What defines sincere beauty? - Can flaws enhance artistic value? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Architect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/architect/) [Architecture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/architecture/) [Beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beauty/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Rome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rome/) [Sincerity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sincerity/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [“But why, in any case, do we so readily accept the idea that the one thing you must do if you want to please…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/but-why-in-any-case-do-we-so-readily-accept-the-idea-that-the-one/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Go where he will, the wise man is at home, His hearth the earth, his hall the azure dome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/go-where-he-will-the-wise-man-is-at-home-his-hearth-the-earth-his/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [When we die, as when the scenes have been fixed on to celluloid and the scenery is pulled down and burnt — we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jostein-gaarder/when-we-die-as-when-the-scenes-have-been-fixed-on-to-celluloid-and/) [Jostein Gaarder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jostein-gaarder/) > [In the later nineteenth century, the tops of skyscrapers often took the shape of domes, surmounted by jaunty gilded lanterns; later came ziggurats, mausoleums,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-gill/in-the-later-nineteenth-century-the-tops-of-skyscrapers-often-took/) [Brendan Gill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-gill/) > [The mosques are our barracks, the domes our helmets, the minarets our bayonets and the faithful our soldiers...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/recep-tayyip-erdogan/the-mosques-are-our-barracks-the-domes-our-helmets-the-minarets-our/) [Recep Tayyip Erdogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/recep-tayyip-erdogan/) > [With writing and publishing, my only aim is to live in the aesthetic pleasure dome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-baumann/with-writing-and-publishing-my-only-aim-is-to-live-in-the-aesthetic/) [Ken Baumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-baumann/) > [Nor need we power or splendour, wide hall or lordly dome; the good, the true, the tender, these form the wealth of home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-josepha-hale/nor-need-we-power-or-splendour-wide-hall-or-lordly-dome-the-good-the/) [Sarah Josepha Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-josepha-hale/) > [You wouldn't want to live a life in which you are loved or approved by all people on Earth or even within your own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/you-wouldn-t-want-to-live-a-life-in-which-you-are-loved-or-approved/) [John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/) > [When my dad toured in '91, I think my first gig properly was the Tokyo Dome, 50,000 people indoors. That was pretty scary. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dhani-harrison/when-my-dad-toured-in-91-i-think-my-first-gig-properly-was-the-tokyo/) [Dhani Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dhani-harrison/) > [I also hope that with the assistance and expertise of Dome Records, that I will be able to further pierce the UK and European…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-duke/i-also-hope-that-with-the-assistance-and-expertise-of-dome-records/) [George Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-duke/) > [A city where the Capitol Dome, perforated like a kitchen colander, is the symbol of how secrets are kept.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-ford/a-city-where-the-capitol-dome-perforated-like-a-kitchen-colander-is/) [Leslie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-ford/) > [Filled with rapture, his soul yearned for freedom, space, vastness. Over him the heavenly dome, full of quiet, shining stars, hung boundlessly. From the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/filled-with-rapture-his-soul-yearned-for-freedom-space-vastness-over/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Wait," said Butler. "Just wait, Holly. Artemis has a plan." He squinted through the green dome. "What is your plan, Artemis?" All Artemis could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/wait-said-butler-just-wait-holly-artemis-has-a-plan-he-squinted/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [Nature paints not; In oils, but frescoes the great dome of heaven; With sunsets, and the lovely forms of clouds; And flying vapors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/nature-paints-not-in-oils-but-frescoes-the-great-dome-of-heaven-with/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [The highest perfection of politeness is only a beautiful edifice, built, from the base to the dome, of ungraceful and gilded forms of charitable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/the-highest-perfection-of-politeness-is-only-a-beautiful-edifice/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) ## 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 Aisle quotes > [The nation, as you know, is at a critical point. At a time like this we can't risk partisan bickering and political posturing. Our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/the-nation-as-you-know-is-at-a-critical-point-at-a-time-like-this-we/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [It has been said that a bride's attitude towards her betrothed can be summed up in three words: Aisle. Alter. Hymn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-muir/it-has-been-said-that-a-bride-s-attitude-towards-her-betrothed-can-be/) [Frank Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-muir/) > [I see the world as a knowledge hardware story, and every day I'm just walking through the aisles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-st-pierre/i-see-the-world-as-a-knowledge-hardware-story-and-every-day-i-m-just/) [Georges St-Pierre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-st-pierre/) > [There is a bunch of racism in America, and sadly, most of it's on the left side of the aisle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/there-is-a-bunch-of-racism-in-america-and-sadly-most-of-it-s-on-the/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Let that get you up in the morning and put the light in your eyes. I'm telling you, it makes you a better husband,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-jarreau/let-that-get-you-up-in-the-morning-and-put-the-light-in-your-eyes-i-m/) [Al Jarreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-jarreau/) > [Heaven is not a place for those who are afraid of hell; it’s a place for those who love God. You can scare people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-chandler/heaven-is-not-a-place-for-those-who-are-afraid-of-hell-it-s-a-place/) [Matt Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-chandler/) > [Every presidential candidate for decades has released his tax returns, and I've released 33 years of my tax returns. The American people deserve to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/every-presidential-candidate-for-decades-has-released-his-tax-returns/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I'll never forget that first night with the team. Going to the ballpark on the bus was the hardest 30 minutes of my life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-kaline/i-ll-never-forget-that-first-night-with-the-team-going-to-the/) [Al Kaline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-kaline/) > [ In modern day evangelism, this precious doctrine \[of regeneration\] has been reduced to nothing more than a human decision to raise one's hand, walk… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-washer/in-modern-day-evangelism-this-precious-doctrine-of-regeneration-has/) [Paul Washer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-washer/) > [I've had diseases that lasted longer than my marriages. You know you are in a bad marriage if you walk down the aisle thinking,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nell-carter/i-ve-had-diseases-that-lasted-longer-than-my-marriages-you-know-you/) [Nell Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nell-carter/) > [I want to be here for a long time, so I am going to do everything I have to do to be here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magic-johnson/i-want-to-be-here-for-a-long-time-so-i-am-going-to-do-everything-i/) [Magic Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magic-johnson/) > [There are smart people on our side of the aisle who have known as early as I did who Obama was and should have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/there-are-smart-people-on-our-side-of-the-aisle-who-have-known-as/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I am all in favor of pay equity for women, but this kind of legislation, as is typical of what's being proposed by my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/i-am-all-in-favor-of-pay-equity-for-women-but-this-kind-of/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [I think that people have to reward those individuals who are prepared to work across the political aisle. 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So what we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/over-the-last-30-odd-years-democrats-have-moved-to-the-right-and-the/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) Browse all 203 Aisle quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The hand that rounded Peter's dome, And groined the aisles of Christian Rome, Wrought in a sad sincerity; Himself from God he could not free; He builded better than he knew: The conscious stone to beauty grew.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ralph Waldo Emerson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-hand-that-rounded-peter-s-dome-and-groined-the-aisles-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Aisle" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-hand-that-rounded-peter-s-dome-and-groined-the-aisles-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e6/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_aisle_the-hand-that-rounded-peter-s-dome-and-g_128735.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e6/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_aisle_the-hand-that-rounded-peter-s-dome-and-g_128735.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e6/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_aisle_the-hand-that-rounded-peter-s-dome-and-g_128735.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The hand that rounded Peter's dome, And groined the aisles of Christian Rome, Wrought in a sad sincerity…” — 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 hand that rounded Peter's dome,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-hand-that-rounded-peter-s-dome-and-groined-the-aisles-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-hand-that-rounded-peter-s-dome-and-groined-the-aisles-of/#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 } } ] } ```