Ancient Quote by Victoria Finlay
“In 1879 the Bengali scholar S.M. Tagore compiled a more extensive list of ruby colors from the Purana sacred texts: ‘like the China rose, like blood, like the seeds of the pomegranate, like red lead, like the red lotus, like saffron, like the resin of certain trees, like the eyes of the Greek partridge or the Indian crane…and like the interior of the half-blown water lily.’ With so many gorgeous descriptive possibilities it is curious that in English the two ancient names for rubies have come to sound incredibly ugly.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Color: A Natural History by Victoria Finlay, 2002
The quote lists vivid ruby color descriptions from ancient Indian texts, contrasting them with the harsh English names for rubies.
In simple terms: Ancient texts describe rubies beautifully, but English names sound ugly.
Key Takeaway
Appreciate poetic language in describing colors.
Themes
culture
language
perception
beauty
history
Mood
reflective
curious
Type
descriptive
historical
When to use this quote
- art criticism
- interior design
- fashion
- branding
- poetry
Key Concepts
color symbolism
linguistic evolution
cross‑cultural comparison
Questions to Reflect On
- How do language and culture shape our perception of beauty?
- Can we revive richer descriptors in modern usage?
A Different Perspective
English naming may reflect colonial bias, not aesthetic value.
