Share & Save
Meaning
This reads as a reflection on desire that is less about owning beautiful things than about being shaped by them. It points to the idea that beauty changes our inner life, and that longing can be a form of admiration rather than possession. It lands in moments when someone is trying to explain why art, places, or memory matter beyond their price or use.
When It Was Said
Not documented yet.
Who It Was Said To
Not documented yet.
Historical Context
Not documented yet.
Source
Not documented yet.
Original Language & Translation
Originally said in English.
Did They Really Say It?
Not documented yet.
Did You Know?
Not documented yet.
About Alain de Botton
British author and public speaker
Alain de Botton is a British author and public speaker known for writing about contemporary life and for making philosophy feel useful in everyday settings. His work often turns to common experiences and asks how ideas can help explain them. Among his best-known books are Essays in Love, which sold two million copies, How Proust Can Change Your Life, Status Anxiety, and The Architecture of Happiness.
More from Alain de Botton (314 quotes) →Other sayings from Alain de Botton
- “The Arab-Israeli conflict is also in many ways a conflict about status: it's a war between two peoples who fe…”Alain de Botton
- “It is as if we need to be reminded of convention in order properly to appreciate the wonder of being unguarde…”Alain de Botton
- “The central task for a business is to make a profit. The challenge is to make a profit by doing things which…”Alain de Botton
- “I've had my successes and failures. I know many academics in my field loathe me. I've come to loathe them bac…”Alain de Botton
More Art quotes
READ THE SOURCE
Books by Alain de Botton
The Architecture of Happiness
2008
The news
2014
The course of love
2016
Religion for Atheists
2012
The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work
2009