Lost Quote by Simone de Beauvoir
“The day knowledge was preferred to wisdom and mere usefulness to beauty. . . . Only a moral revolution -- not a social or a political revolution -- only a moral revolution would lead man back to his lost truth.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Ethics of Ambiguity” (1947)
Prioritizing knowledge over wisdom and utility over beauty leads to moral decay; only a moral revolution can restore humanity’s lost truth.
In simple terms: Choosing facts over values harms humanity; moral change is needed.
Cultivate wisdom and beauty over mere knowledge.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- education reform
- artistic appreciation
- community service
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What does “lost truth” mean to you?
- How can moral values be integrated into daily life?
Moral revolutions are hard to achieve without concrete plans.