“ But beauty, real beauty, ends where an intellectual expression begins. Intellect is in itself a mode of exaggeration, and destroys the harmony of any face. ”
Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray (1890). copy citation
Author | Oscar Wilde |
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Source | The Picture of Dorian Gray |
Topic | beauty harmony intellect |
Date | 1890 |
Language | English |
Reference | |
Note | |
Weblink | http://www.gutenberg.org/files/174/174-h/174-h.htm |
Context
“Upon my word, Basil, I didn't know you were so vain; and I really can't see any resemblance between you, with your rugged strong face and your coal-black hair, and this young Adonis, who looks as if he was made out of ivory and rose-leaves. Why, my dear Basil, he is a Narcissus, and you—well, of course you have an intellectual expression and all that. But beauty, real beauty, ends where an intellectual expression begins. Intellect is in itself a mode of exaggeration, and destroys the harmony of any face. The moment one sits down to think, one becomes all nose, or all forehead, or something horrid. Look at the successful men in any of the learned professions. How perfectly hideous they are! Except, of course, in the Church.”
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