--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Beauty - what is beauty, forsooth? Form…" description: "\"Beauty - what is beauty, forsooth? Form and color; that is, surface only. Fortune - what is fortune? Nothing is ever a pleasure or a real profit to him..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffd/richard-jefferies-13649_alone_beauty-what-is-beauty-forsooth-form-and_1307006.jpg" --- # Beauty - what is beauty, forsooth? Form and color; that… ![“Beauty - what is beauty, forsooth? Form and color; that is, surface only. Fortune - what is fortune? Nothing is ever a pleasure or a real profit to him who has to labour for it. Truth - you die in the pursuit, and the sea beats the beach as it did a thousand years ago. The stolid are alone happy.” quote by Richard Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffd/richard-jefferies-13649_alone_beauty-what-is-beauty-forsooth-form-and_1307006.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffd/richard-jefferies-13649_alone_beauty-what-is-beauty-forsooth-form-and_1307006.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffd/richard-jefferies-13649_alone_beauty-what-is-beauty-forsooth-form-and_1307006.jpg) > “Beauty - what is beauty, forsooth? Form and color; that is, surface only. Fortune - what is fortune? Nothing is ever a pleasure or a real profit to him who has to labour for it. Truth - you die in the pursuit, and the sea beats the beach as it did a thousand years ago. The stolid are alone happy.” [Richard Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-jefferies/) ## 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 superficial, fortune fleeting, truth elusive; only the steadfast find lasting happiness. **In simple terms:** Surface values fade; only steadiness brings true contentment. Key Takeaway Cultivate inner steadiness. Themes beauty fortune truth contentment steadiness Mood contemplative serene Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - personal reflection - life philosophy - mental resilience - acceptance - inner peace Key Concepts philosophy existentialism stoicism Questions to Reflect On - What does true happiness mean to you? - How can you focus on inner steadiness? A Different Perspective Even the steadfast may still face external turmoil. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alone/) [Beach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beach/) [Beats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beats/) [Beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beauty/) [Beauty Beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beauty-beauty/) [Beauty Forsooth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beauty-forsooth-4311708/) [Color](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/color/) [Did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/did/) [Die](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/die/) [Ever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ever/) [Fortune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fortune/) [Fortune Fortune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fortune-fortune-237460/) [Happy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happy/) [Him](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/him/) [Labour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labour/) [Nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nothing/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure/) [Profit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profit/) [Pursuit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursuit/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Sea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sea/) [Surface](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surface/) [Surface Fortune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surface-fortune-4311709/) [Thousand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thousand/) [Thousand years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thousand-years/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) [Who](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) [Years ago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years-ago/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) ## Related quotes > [O fortune, fortune! all men call thee fickle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/o-fortune-fortune-all-men-call-thee-fickle/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“May she be granted beauty and yet not Beauty to make a stranger’s eye distraught. —W. B. YEATS”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-johnston/may-she-be-granted-beauty-and-yet-not-beauty-to-make-a-stranger-s-eye/) [Tim Johnston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-johnston/) > [The scar confirms the beauty, the beauty the scar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-alejandro-king-aka-the-covert-comic/the-scar-confirms-the-beauty-the-beauty-the-scar/) [John Alejandro King Aka The Covert Comic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-alejandro-king-aka-the-covert-comic/) > [If you got beauty, beauty, just raise em up. Cause every inch of you is perfect from the bottom to the top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meghan-trainor/if-you-got-beauty-beauty-just-raise-em-up-cause-every-inch-of-you-is/) [Meghan Trainor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meghan-trainor/) > [“It is easy to pride yourself on brains when you had both brains and beauty. Beauty was fleeting, and here was the proof. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicki-salcedo/it-is-easy-to-pride-yourself-on-brains-when-you-had-both-brains-and/) [Nicki Salcedo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicki-salcedo/) > [Beauty is more important in computing than anywhere else in technology because software is so complicated. Beauty is the ultimate defense against complexity. ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gelernter/beauty-is-more-important-in-computing-than-anywhere-else-in-2/) [David Gelernter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gelernter/) > [I always say you can never be extravagant with beauty. Beauty is God made real. Beauty is life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imelda-marcos/i-always-say-you-can-never-be-extravagant-with-beauty-beauty-is-god/) [Imelda Marcos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imelda-marcos/) > [“The beauty! The beauty!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/the-beauty-the-beauty/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [“Everything has beauty. Even the ugly. Because without the ugly, there would be no beauty. Because without beauty, we would not survive our pain,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-sheehan/everything-has-beauty-even-the-ugly-because-without-the-ugly-there/) [Madeline Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-sheehan/) > [Beauty is not beauty without love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-campion/beauty-is-not-beauty-without-love/) [Thomas Campion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-campion/) > [“My words don't add meaning to your beauty, your beauty adds meaning to my words.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harpreet-singh-nanda/my-words-don-t-add-meaning-to-your-beauty-your-beauty-adds-meaning-to/) [Harpreet Singh Nanda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harpreet-singh-nanda/) > [There are two kinds of beauty; there is a beauty which God gives at birth, and which withers as a flower. And there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-kuyper/there-are-two-kinds-of-beauty-there-is-a-beauty-which-god-gives-at/) [Abraham Kuyper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-kuyper/) > [Physical beauty is not everything, but the beauty is more careful than anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/physical-beauty-is-not-everything-but-the-beauty-is-more-careful-than/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“God delights in beauty, Islam teaches at its core, and is beauty. Beauty is in creation, not destruction, and in balance. It is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krista-tippett/god-delights-in-beauty-islam-teaches-at-its-core-and-is-beauty-beauty/) [Krista Tippett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krista-tippett/) > [Design is not making beauty, beauty emerges from selection, affinities, integration, love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-kahn/design-is-not-making-beauty-beauty-emerges-from-selection-affinities/) [Louis Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-kahn/) ## More by Richard Jefferies > [To the soul, there is no past and no future; all is, and will be ever, in now. For artificial purposes time is mutually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-jefferies/to-the-soul-there-is-no-past-and-no-future-all-is-and-will-be-ever-in/) [Richard Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-jefferies/) > [A man, to read, must read alone. He may make extracts, he may work at books in company; but to read, to absorb, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-jefferies/a-man-to-read-must-read-alone-he-may-make-extracts-he-may-work-at/) [Richard Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-jefferies/) > [Grief falls upon human beings as the rain, not selecting good or evil, visiting the innocent, condemning those who have done no wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-jefferies/grief-falls-upon-human-beings-as-the-rain-not-selecting-good-or-evil/) [Richard Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-jefferies/) > [Ever since the world began, it has been the belief of mankind that desolate places are the special haunt of supernatural beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-jefferies/ever-since-the-world-began-it-has-been-the-belief-of-mankind-that/) [Richard Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-jefferies/) > [Now is eternity; now is the immortal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-jefferies/now-is-eternity-now-is-the-immortal-life/) [Richard Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-jefferies/) > [The labourer's muscle is that of a cart-horse, his motions lumbering and slow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-jefferies/the-labourer-s-muscle-is-that-of-a-cart-horse-his-motions-lumbering/) [Richard Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-jefferies/) > [When even the most strictly logical mind looks round and investigates the phenomena attending its own existence, perhaps the first fact to attract attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-jefferies/when-even-the-most-strictly-logical-mind-looks-round-and-investigates/) [Richard Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-jefferies/) > [It is quite true that women like courage, and that boldness often goes a long way; but it is questionable whether with high-bred natures…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-jefferies/it-is-quite-true-that-women-like-courage-and-that-boldness-often-goes/) [Richard Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-jefferies/) > [It would seem that the ant works its way tentatively, and, observing where it fails, tries another place and succeeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-jefferies/it-would-seem-that-the-ant-works-its-way-tentatively-and-observing/) [Richard Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-jefferies/) > [The impression left after watching the motions of birds is that of extreme mobility - a life of perpetual impulse checked only by fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-jefferies/the-impression-left-after-watching-the-motions-of-birds-is-that-of/) [Richard Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-jefferies/) > [The 'crownd' is still the unit, the favourite coin of the labourers, especially the elder folk. They use the word something in the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-jefferies/the-crownd-is-still-the-unit-the-favourite-coin-of-the-labourers/) [Richard Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-jefferies/) > [I desire a greatness of soul, an irradiance of mind, a deeper insight, a broader hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-jefferies/i-desire-a-greatness-of-soul-an-irradiance-of-mind-a-deeper-insight-a/) [Richard Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-jefferies/) > [The lover of nature has the highest art in his soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-jefferies/the-lover-of-nature-has-the-highest-art-in-his-soul/) [Richard Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-jefferies/) > [Give me power of soul, so that I may actually effect by its will that which I strive for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-jefferies/give-me-power-of-soul-so-that-i-may-actually-effect-by-its-will-that/) [Richard Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-jefferies/) > [It is injurious to the mind as well as to the body to be always in one place and always surrounded by the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-jefferies/it-is-injurious-to-the-mind-as-well-as-to-the-body-to-be-always-in/) [Richard Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-jefferies/) [Explore all 49 Richard Jefferies quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-jefferies/) ## More Alone quotes > [I can be taken away from myself quite easily, I kind of start betraying myself and compromising my integrity, to keep someone else happy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aimee-lou-wood/i-can-be-taken-away-from-myself-quite-easily-i-kind-of-start/) [Aimee Lou Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aimee-lou-wood/) > [Perhaps our own opposition to even the level of European integration we have now, let alone any more, is well known.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-farage/perhaps-our-own-opposition-to-even-the-level-of-european-integration/) [Nigel Farage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-farage/) > [If your goal is to look different, you'll see results faster with strength training than with cardio alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-kaiser/if-your-goal-is-to-look-different-you-ll-see-results-faster-with/) [Anna Kaiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-kaiser/) > [With my songs, the question is always, 'Can you pull it off live, alone on just an acoustic guitar?' That's the litmus test. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-colvin/with-my-songs-the-question-is-always-can-you-pull-it-off-live-alone/) [Shawn Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-colvin/) > [I should have liked to get married, but over many decades I have lived essentially alone. I go to sleep when I'm tired, get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-dennis/i-should-have-liked-to-get-married-but-over-many-decades-i-have-lived/) [Felix Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-dennis/) > [I am not alone in that I've had times of unemployment - unemployment is huge amongst disabled people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosie-jones/i-am-not-alone-in-that-i-ve-had-times-of-unemployment-unemployment-is/) [Rosie Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosie-jones/) > [I never knew a heart could feel so cold so empty so broken until now , I don't know what to say I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-never-knew-a-heart-could-feel-so-cold-so-empty-so-broken-until-now/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you're disabled or different from what general society deems normal, it's fine. There will always be people who won't accept you, but there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millicent-simmonds/if-you-re-disabled-or-different-from-what-general-society-deems/) [Millicent Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millicent-simmonds/) > [Real love is a permanently self-enlarging experience…A Journey With My Girl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luckybannu/real-love-is-a-permanently-self-enlarging-experience-a-journey-with/) [Luckybannu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luckybannu/) > [“What I'm trying to say is that I spent the last four months learning to be alone, avoiding the world, hating pretty much anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-cremer/what-i-m-trying-to-say-is-that-i-spent-the-last-four-months-learning/) [Andrea Cremer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-cremer/) > [I'm used to being alone in a quiet, isolated environment - I'm kind of a low-energy, low-vibration, low-stamina person to begin with - so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/i-m-used-to-being-alone-in-a-quiet-isolated-environment-i-m-kind-of-a/) [Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/) > [“When I look back at myself at age twenty, what I remember most is being alone and lonely. I had no girlfriend to warm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/when-i-look-back-at-myself-at-age-twenty-what-i-remember-most-is/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [I have developed a nasty habit of losing to the guy who wins the tournament, and that alone makes you think what you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-robertson/i-have-developed-a-nasty-habit-of-losing-to-the-guy-who-wins-the/) [Neil Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-robertson/) > [As a child, I was this record collector/listener that would sit in a room and listen to the entire Beatles catalog alone, over and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/as-a-child-i-was-this-record-collector-listener-that-would-sit-in-a/) [Chris Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/) > [How one hates to think of oneself as alone. How one avoids it. It seems to imply rejection or unpopularity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/how-one-hates-to-think-of-oneself-as-alone-how-one-avoids-it-it-seems/) [Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/) [Browse all 3,082 Alone quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alone/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Beauty - what is beauty, forsooth? Form and color; that is, surface only. Fortune - what is fortune? Nothing is ever a pleasure or a real profit to him who has to labour for it. Truth - you die in the pursuit, and the sea beats the beach as it did a thousand years ago. 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