Single Idea 23758

[catalogued under 21. Aesthetics / A. Aesthetic Experience / 6. The Sublime]

Full Idea

Beauty is the supreme mystery of the world. It is a gleam which attracts the attention and yet does nothing to sustain it. …While exciting desire, it makes clear that there is nothing in it to be desired, because what we want is that it should not change.

Gist of Idea

Beauty is an attractive mystery, leaving nothing to be desired

Source

Simone Weil (Human Personality [1943], p.92)

Book Reference

Weil,Simone: 'An Anthology' [Penguin 1986], p.92


A Reaction

She attributes beauty to a supernatural source. I catalogue this idea under 'the sublime', rather than 'beauty'. It may be better to say that beauty inspires love, rather than desire.

Related Idea

Idea 23759 Everything which originates in love is beautiful [Weil]