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Quote by William Morris

“...everything made by man's hands has a form, which must be either beautiful or ugly; beautiful if it is in accord with Nature, and helps her; ugly if it is discordant with Nature, and thwarts her; it cannot be indifferent...” quote by William Morris
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““...everything made by man's hands has a form, which must be either beautiful or ugly; beautiful if it is in accord with Nature, and helps her; ugly if it is discordant with Nature, and thwarts her; it cannot be indifferent...””

William Morris

About This Quote

Source Essay: The Beauty of Nature, William Morris, 1880

Objects aligned with nature are beautiful; those that clash are ugly and harmful.

In simple terms: Nature‑aligned design is beautiful.

Key Takeaway

Design with nature in mind.

Themes

design environment ethics

Mood

thoughtful critical

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

  • architecture
  • product design
  • urban planning
  • environmental policy

Key Concepts

aesthetics sustainability

Questions to Reflect On

  • What designs in your life reflect nature?
  • How can you redesign discordant objects?
A Different Perspective

Balancing aesthetics and functionality can be challenging.

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