"Beauty is but the sensible image of the Infinite. Like truth and justice it lives within us; like virtue and the moral law it is a companion of the soul"

Beauty transcends superficial appearance, serving as a perceptible reflection of the Infinite, the boundless or the divine that cannot be fully comprehended by human senses. Its essence is not limited to external forms or fleeting trends; rather, beauty reveals something profound and immeasurable, connecting the material world to the spiritual or eternal. By describing beauty as the "sensible image", Bancroft indicates that through our senses, sight, hearing, touch, and beyond, we are granted glimpses of an unending reality that exists beyond the limitations of physical form.

Beauty’s kinship with truth and justice suggests it is not a fleeting pleasure but an enduring principle entwined with the deepest aspects of human existence. These concepts, truth, justice, beauty, are not mere abstract ideals situated somewhere distant or unattainable; instead, they live within us, woven into the fabric of our consciousness. Each person possesses the innate capacity to recognize and respond to beauty, just as we respond to truth or an act of justice. They form a part of our moral and emotional landscape, arising from within rather than imposed from without.

The analogy continues as Bancroft likens beauty to virtue and the moral law, positioning it as a constant companion of the soul. Virtue guides actions, the moral law governs conscience, and beauty provides inspiration and delight, each serving as an interior guide along life’s journey. Beauty nourishes the spirit, much like virtue strengthens character, reminding individuals of an order and harmony that transcends daily struggles. It encourages the soul to aspire, to seek higher forms of expression, and to embrace meanings beyond practical concerns. In its highest sense, beauty is not just an adornment of life but a spiritual presence that illuminates existence, guiding and elevating the human soul toward the infinite.