Single Idea 6611

[catalogued under 21. Aesthetics / C. Artistic Issues / 5. Objectivism in Art]

Full Idea

What is food to one may be literally poison to others.

Gist of Idea

One man's meat is another man's poison

Source

Lucretius (On the Nature of the Universe [c.60 BCE], IV.638)

Book Reference

Lucretius: 'On the Nature of the Universe', ed/tr. Latham,Ronald [Penguin 1951], p.150


A Reaction

This seems to be the origin of the well-known saying. This is not relativism of perception, but a relativism of how individuals actually respond to the world. It sums up the position with, say, the operas of Wagner.