Single Idea 19773

[catalogued under 21. Aesthetics / A. Aesthetic Experience / 4. Beauty]

Full Idea

Where there is no love, what use is beauty?

Gist of Idea

Without love, what use is beauty?

Source

Jean-Jacques Rousseau (Discourse on the Origin of Inequality [1754], Part I)

Book Reference

Rousseau,Jean-Jacques: 'The Basic Political Writings', ed/tr. Cress,Donald A. [Hackett 1987], p.58


A Reaction

Rousseau seems to be thinking of sexual attractiveness, but the aphorism seems to have universal application.