Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
Decorations were created to cover the body out of modesty.
In plain terms
Ornaments come from modesty.
What can you take from it?
Decoration can express modesty.

Where it applies

  • art history
  • fashion design
  • cultural studies

Putting it to work

  • study clothing origins
  • design for modesty

Questions to consider

  • Why do we decorate ourselves?
  • What does my clothing say about me?

Another view

Ornaments also show status or wealth.

More from Joseph Joubert

  1. Only choose in marriage a woman whom you would choose as a friend if she were a man.

    Permalink to quote #43
  2. Our ideals, like pictures, are made from lights and shadows.

    Permalink to quote #45
  3. Old age deprives the intelligent man only of qualities useless to wisdom.

    Permalink to quote #42

Related quotes

  1. Fashion exists for women with no taste, etiquette for people with no breeding.

    Queen of Romania MarieQueen of Romania Marie quote #1
  2. 'I want the program to be very open and develop in style as time goes on. But I am also interested in the positive aspects of Asian family life and other Asian…

    Vernon CoreaVernon Corea quote #1
  3. 'Disco is a major influence in the world of fashion. It is a dynamic factor in contemporary advertising. It is a message from every consumer that there has bee…

    Neil BogartNeil Bogart quote #1