Quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson
Those who are esteemed umpires of taste, are often persons who have acquired some knowledge of admired pictures or sculptures, and have an inclination for whatever is elegant; but if you inquire whether they are beautiful souls, and whether their own acts are like fair pictures, you learn that they are selfish and sensual. Their cultivation is local, as if you should rub a log of dry wood in one spot to produce fire, all the rest remaining cold. Their knowledge of the fine arts is some study of rules and particulars, or some limited judgment of color or form which is exercised for amusement or for show. It is a proof of the shallowness of the doctrine of beauty, as it lies in the minds of our amateurs, that men seem to have lost the perception of the instant dependence of form upon soul.
Summary
This quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson criticizes those who are considered authorities on taste and beauty. Emerson argues that while these individuals may possess knowledge and appreciation for art and aesthetics, their own character and actions do not reflect the qualities they admire. He suggests that their cultivation is confined to a specific area and fails to encompass a holistic understanding of beauty. Emerson further highlights that their knowledge of art is often superficial and limited to mere technical and superficial aspects. Ultimately, he suggests that true beauty is inseparable from the soul and laments the lack of this understanding in contemporary society.
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