--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The mathematician who after seeing Phedre…" description: "\"The mathematician who after seeing Phedre asked: 'Qu'est que ca prouve?' was not such a fool as he has been generally made out. No one has ever been ab..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04b/w-somerset-maugham-237_able_the-mathematician-who-after-seeing-phedr_1669321.jpg" --- # The mathematician who after seeing Phedre asked: 'Qu'est… ![“The mathematician who after seeing Phedre asked: 'Qu'est que ca prouve?' was not such a fool as he has been generally made out. No one has ever been able to explain why the Doric temple of Paestum is more beautiful than a glass of cold beer except by bringing in considerations that have nothing to…” quote by W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04b/w-somerset-maugham-237_able_the-mathematician-who-after-seeing-phedr_1669321.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04b/w-somerset-maugham-237_able_the-mathematician-who-after-seeing-phedr_1669321.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04b/w-somerset-maugham-237_able_the-mathematician-who-after-seeing-phedr_1669321.jpg) > “The mathematician who after seeing Phedre asked: 'Qu'est que ca prouve?' was not such a fool as he has been generally made out. No one has ever been able to explain why the Doric temple of Paestum is more beautiful than a glass of cold beer except by bringing in considerations that have nothing to do with beauty.” [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The mathematician questions the value of beauty in a temple versus a beer, noting that explanations often ignore true aesthetic criteria. **In simple terms:** He doubts superficial reasons for beauty judgments. Key Takeaway Seek deeper criteria when judging beauty. Themes aesthetics philosophy science subjectivity beauty standards Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - art criticism - architectural tours - beer tasting events Key Concepts mathematical reasoning cultural context sensory experience Questions to Reflect On - What truly defines beauty? - How do context and culture shape aesthetic value? A Different Perspective Beauty judgments can be overly simplistic. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beautiful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beautiful/) [Beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beauty/) [Beer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beer/) [Cold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cold/) [Consideration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consideration/) [Fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fool/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Mathematician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mathematician/) [Temples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temples/) ## Related quotes > [When I get a chance to play golf or go on a boat with good people, take the boat out and put some lobsters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/when-i-get-a-chance-to-play-golf-or-go-on-a-boat-with-good-people/) [Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/) > [Here's too a long life and a merry one.. 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