"Beauty in distress is much the most affecting beauty"
- Edmund Burke
About this Quote
This quote by Edmund Burke speaks to the power of charm in times of distress. He recommends that beauty is more effective and more affecting when it is in a state of distress. This might be translated in a variety of ways. For instance, it might refer to the appeal of a person in a tight spot, or the beauty of a landscape that has been impacted by a natural catastrophe. It could likewise describe the appeal of a work of art that has been produced in reaction to a tight spot. In any case, Burke is recommending that charm in distress is more effective and more affecting than beauty in a state of ease. This could be due to the fact that it speaks with the durability of the human spirit in the face of adversity, or because it speaks to the power of appeal to transcend tough situations. Whatever the interpretation, Burke's quote speaks with the power of beauty in times of distress.
About the Author