Those who find ugly meanings in beautiful things are corrupt without being charming. This is a fault. Those who find beautiful meanings in beautiful things are the cultivated. For these there is hope. They are the elect to whom beautiful things mean only Beauty.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Seeing beauty as mere aesthetic is a sign of cultivation; finding corrupt meaning in beauty shows moral decay.
- In plain terms
- Cultured people see beauty for beauty; corrupt people twist it.
- What can you take from it?
- Value beauty without imposing harmful meanings.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What makes a meaning 'ugly'?
- Can beauty be a vehicle for moral critique?
Another view
Not all interpretations are purely moral; some may be critical without being corrupt.
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