Quote by Plotinus

Withdraw into yourself and look. And if you do not fine yourself beautiful yet, act as does the creator of a statue that is to be made beautiful: he cuts away here, he smoothes there, he makes this line lighter, this other purer, until a lovely face has grown his work. So do you also: cut away all that is excessive, straighten all that is crooked, bring light to all that is overcast, labor to make all one glow or beauty and never cease chiseling your statue, until there shall shine out on you from it the godlike splendor of virtue, until you see the perfect goodness surely established in the stainless shrine

Summary

This quote is encouraging introspection and self-improvement. It advises withdrawing into oneself and taking a critical look at who one is. If one doesn't perceive themselves as beautiful yet, they should follow the example of a sculptor perfecting a statue. By trimming away what is unnecessary, refining what is imperfect, and bringing clarity to what is unclear, one can gradually transform themselves into a more ideal version. The quote symbolizes the continuous effort to cultivate virtuous qualities, akin to chiseling away at a statue until it radiates the divine splendor of virtue.