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Full Idea
Beauty is a manifestation of secret natural laws which without this appearance would have remained eternally hidden from us.
Gist of Idea
Beauty is a manifestation of secret natural laws
Source
Wolfgang von Goethe (Maxims and Reflections [1825], 183)
Book Ref
Goethe,J. Wolfgang: 'Maxims and Reflections' [Penguin 1840], p.21
A Reaction
An interesting defence of beauty as an objective feature of the world. I'm not sure. Much beauty is indeed the result of growth or erosion expressing underlying laws, but then I have always thought there was a sexual component to visual beauty.
| 7538 | The happiest people link the beginning and end of life [Goethe] |
| 7539 | To get duties from people without rights, you must pay them well [Goethe] |
| 7540 | Beauty is a manifestation of secret natural laws [Goethe] |
| 7541 | Man never understands how anthropomorphic he is [Goethe] |
| 7542 | The best form of government teaches us to govern ourselves [Goethe] |
| 7543 | We gain self-knowledge through action, not thought - especially when doing our duty [Goethe] |
| 7544 | Many people imagine that to experience is to understand [Goethe] |