Common Quote by Robert Aris Willmott
“Taste is not stationary. It grows every day, and is improved by cultivation, as a good temper is refined by religion. In its most advanced state it takes the title of judgment. Hume quotes Fontenelle's ingenious distinction between the common watch that tells the hours, and the delicately constructed one that marks the seconds and smallest differences of time.”
About This Quote
Taste evolves through continual refinement, much like moral character; the finest discernment is a form of judgment that perceives subtle distinctions.
In simple terms: Taste and judgment sharpen with practice and refinement.
Key Takeaway
Cultivation refines sensory and moral discernment.
Themes
aesthetics
ethics
personal growth
philosophy
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
didactic
reflective
When to use this quote
- learning to appreciate art
- developing critical thinking
- training palate in cuisine
Key Concepts
refinement
judgment
Practical Applications
- create progressive tasting sessions
- incorporate reflective judgment in decision‑making
Questions to Reflect On
- In what ways does refined taste influence moral choices?
- Can judgment be separated from personal preferences?
A Different Perspective
Equating taste with moral judgment may oversimplify complex ethical reasoning.
![“Neither Italian fascism nor German national "socialism" have anything in common with such a [Soviet socialistic] society, primarily because private ownership of factories, plants, lands, banks, means of transportation, etc., remain untouched there, and, therefore, capitalism in Germany and Italy…” quote by Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/411/joseph-stalin-1734_capitalism_neither-italian-fascism-nor-german-natio_1430.jpg)
