The butterfly's attractiveness derives not only from colors and symmetry: deeper motives contribute to it. We would not think them so beautiful if they did not fly, or if they flew straight and briskly like bees, or if they stung, or above all if they did not enact the perturbing mystery of metamorphosis: the latter assumes in our eyes the value of a badly decoded message, a symbol, a sign.

Summary

This quote emphasizes that the beauty of butterflies comes not only from their colorful appearance and symmetrical patterns, but also from the deeper aspects that contribute to their attractiveness. The fact that butterflies fly and move in a unique and graceful manner sets them apart from bees and adds to their charm. The transformative process of metamorphosis that butterflies undergo is also seen as a captivating and mysterious phenomenon, almost like a symbolic message that requires decoding. These elements make butterflies more intriguing and symbolically significant in our eyes.

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