Like our attitude to love, truth and goodness, we seem to be confident about knowing what beauty is - certain, even dogmatic - until we think hard about the idea, whereupon all confidence flies away.
Interpretation
Our understanding of beauty is often superficial, and deeper contemplation can reveal uncertainty.
This quote by Charles Jencks emphasizes that while we may initially feel confident in our perceptions of beauty, much like our views on love, truth, and goodness, a deeper reflection can lead to doubt and a realization that our understanding is not as solid as we think. It suggests that beauty is subjective and complex, and challenges us to question our assumptions about it.
In practice
This quote could be used in a lecture on aesthetics to discuss the nature of beauty.
Those of us raised in the Christian tradition need to choose to either see God in Jesus or to continue to let the Bible define God. Our tradition says that Jesus is God. Maybe we should act as if we think he is instead of worshipping a book. Maybe we should be brave enough to admit that we are compelled to either become blinded ideologues or we need to forthrightly pick and choose what we follow in the Bible. Most Christians do that anyway, many just don’t admit it.
When we lose our myths we lose our place in the universe.
There is no peace, I'm sorry to say. We find it. We lose it. We find it again. We lose it again.
I am as firmly convinced that religions do harm as I am that they are untrue.
Reality lies in the greatest enchantment you have ever experienced.
A vow is a purely religious act which cannot be taken in a fit of passion. It can be taken only with a mind purified and composed and with God as witness.
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