--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I cannot tell by what logic we call a…" description: "\"“I cannot tell by what logic we call a toad, a bear, or an elephant ugly, they being created in those outward shapes and figures which best express tho..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d2/thomas-browne-2006_elephant-ugly_i-cannot-tell-by-what-logic-we-call-a-to_1385920.png" --- # I cannot tell by what logic we call a toad, a bear, or an… ![“I cannot tell by what logic we call a toad, a bear, or an elephant ugly, they being created in those outward shapes and figures which best express those actions of their inward forms. And having passed that general visitation of God, who saw that all that he had made was good, that is, conformable…” quote by Thomas Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d2/thomas-browne-2006_elephant-ugly_i-cannot-tell-by-what-logic-we-call-a-to_1385920.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d2/thomas-browne-2006_elephant-ugly_i-cannot-tell-by-what-logic-we-call-a-to_1385920.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d2/thomas-browne-2006_elephant-ugly_i-cannot-tell-by-what-logic-we-call-a-to_1385920.png) > ““I cannot tell by what logic we call a toad, a bear, or an elephant ugly, they being created in those outward shapes and figures which best express those actions of their inward forms. And having passed that general visitation of God, who saw that all that he had made was good, that is, conformable to his will, which abhors deformity, and is the rule of order and beauty; there is no deformity but in monstrosity, wherein, notwithstanding there is a kind of beauty.”” [Thomas Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-browne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Beauty arises from inner purpose; outward forms reflect inner function, and true deformity is the lack of purposeful order. **In simple terms:** Beauty reflects inner purpose; disorder is deformity. Key Takeaway Seek purpose behind appearances. Themes beauty order purpose perception Mood contemplative inquisitive Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - design evaluation - art criticism - ethical judgments - environmental design Key Concepts philosophy theology aesthetics Questions to Reflect On - How do you determine if a form serves its inner purpose? - Can beauty exist without function? A Different Perspective Beauty judgments can be culturally biased and overlook functional necessity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abhors Deformity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abhors-deformity-4814741/) [Deformity Monstrosity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deformity-monstrosity-4814739/) [Deformity Rule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deformity-rule-4814742/) [Elephant Ugly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elephant-ugly-4742662/) [Monstrosity Notwithstanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monstrosity-notwithstanding-4814740/) ## Related quotes > [I cannot tell by what logic we call a toad, a bear, or an elephant ugly; they being created in those outward shapes and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-browne/i-cannot-tell-by-what-logic-we-call-a-toad-a-bear-or-an-elephant-ugly-2/) [Thomas Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-browne/) ## More by Thomas Browne > [Be substantially great in thyself, and more than thou appearest unto others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-browne/be-substantially-great-in-thyself-and-more-than-thou-appearest-unto/) [Thomas Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-browne/) > [Man is a noble animal, splendid in ashes, and pompous in the grave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-browne/man-is-a-noble-animal-splendid-in-ashes-and-pompous-in-the-grave/) [Thomas Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-browne/) > [Not to be content with Life is the unsatisfactory state of those which destroy themselves; who being afraid to live, run blindly upon their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-browne/not-to-be-content-with-life-is-the-unsatisfactory-state-of-those/) [Thomas Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-browne/) > [“It is we that are blind, not Fortune: because our eye is too dim to discover the mystery of her effects, we foolishly paint…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-browne/it-is-we-that-are-blind-not-fortune-because-our-eye-is-too-dim-to/) [Thomas Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-browne/) > [“That there must be heresies is true, not onely in our Church, but also in any other; even in Doctrines hereticall there will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-browne/that-there-must-be-heresies-is-true-not-onely-in-our-church-but-also/) [Thomas Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-browne/) > [Think it more satisfactory to live richly than die rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-browne/think-it-more-satisfactory-to-live-richly-than-die-rich/) [Thomas Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-browne/) > [Think not thy time short in this world, since the world itself is not long. 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