Quote by Simone de Beauvoir

The younger and healthier a woman is and the more her new and glossy body seems destined for eternal freshness, the less useful is artifice; but the carnal weakness of this prey that man takes and its ominous deterioration always have to be hidden from him...In any case, the more traits and proportions of a woman seem contrived, the more she delighted the heart of man because she seemed to escape the metamorphosis of natural things. The result is this strange paradox that by desiring to grasp nature, but transfigured, in woman, man destines her to artifice.

The younger and healthier a woman is and the more her new an

Summary

This quote explores the paradoxical nature of man's perception of women. It suggests that men are drawn to the youthful and seemingly natural beauty of women, yet are also wary of their inevitable aging and decay. As women age, the need for artifice increases in order to conceal the signs of their physical vulnerability. Men both desire women as natural beings and seek to transform them into something beyond nature, privileging artificial beauty that betrays the natural course of life. The quote implies that this contradiction arises from men's desire to possess and control women while avoiding the harsh reality of impermanence.

Topics

Feminism Beauty

By Simone de Beauvoir

Liked the quote? Share it with your friends.

Random Quotations

A Thaum is the basic unit of magical strength. It has been u

A Thaum is the basic unit of magical strength. It has been universally established as the amount of magic needed to create one small white pigeon or three normal-sized billiard balls.

Terry Pratchett

It is impossible for capitalism to survive, primarily becaus

It is impossible for capitalism to survive, primarily because the system of capitalism needs some blood to suck. Capitalism used to be like an eagle, but now it's more like a vulture. It used to be strong enough to go and suck anybody's blood whether they were strong or not. But now it has become more cowardly, like the vulture, and it can only suck the blood of the helpless. As the nations of the world free themselves, the capitalism has less victims, less to suck, and it becomes weaker and weaker. It's only a matter of time in my opinion before it will collapse completely.

Compassion will cure more sins than condemnation.

Compassion will cure more sins than condemnation.

Willard Beecher

In the same way as you cannot work with bees without being c

In the same way as you cannot work with bees without being cautious, you cannot work with people without being mindful of their humanity.

The media tried to destroy my parents and has taken things c

The media tried to destroy my parents and has taken things completely out of context, but there's not a whole lot you can do in terms of fighting back. You have to hope that it passes, which it always does. But they have to be careful. They didn't necessarily sign up for this.

Said in answer to the question: What would you advise a pers

Said in answer to the question: What would you advise a person to do if that person felt a nervous breakdown coming on?

The same people who smile in my face would be the same ones

The same people who smile in my face would be the same ones to talk behind my back.

It is only an auctioneer who can equally and impartially adm

It is only an auctioneer who can equally and impartially admire all schools of art.

I think that's what helped us: confidence, respect, the desi

I think that's what helped us: confidence, respect, the desire to work hard.

Either to die the death or to abjureFor ever the society of

Either to die the death or to abjureFor ever the society of men.Therefore, fair Hermia, question your desires;Know of your youth, examine well your blood,Whether, if you yield not to your father's choice,You can endure the livery of a nun,For aye to be in shady cloister mew'd,To live a barren sister all your life,Chanting faint hymns to the cold fruitless moon.Thrice-blessed they that master so their blood,To undergo such maiden pilgrimage;But earthlier happy is the rose distill'd,Than that which withering on the virgin thornGrows, lives and dies in single blessedness.

William Shakespeare

Having a child, that's always been my biggest fear. I want a

Having a child, that's always been my biggest fear. I want a child and I fear a child.

Excellence is the best deterrent to racism or sexism.

Excellence is the best deterrent to racism or sexism.