"Beauty is the disinterested one, without which the ancient world refused to understand itself, a word which both imperceptibly and yet unmistakably has bid farewell to our new world, a world of interests, leaving it to its own avarice and sadness"

In this quote, Hans Urs von Balthasar explores the idea of appeal and its significance in relation to both the ancient and contemporary worlds. He suggests that charm as soon as held a foundational function in the ancient world, working as a lens through which individuals understood their existence. To explain charm as "disinterested" suggests that it was valued for its own sake, independent of individual gain or energy. This detachment permitted beauty to play an extensive part in forming perceptions and philosophies, deeply intertwined with cultural and ethical understanding.

Balthasar contrasts this ancient respect of appeal with its reduced status in the contemporary world. The phrase "imperceptibly and yet unmistakably has bid farewell" suggests a gradual yet undeniable shift far from appeal as a core value. In his view, the contemporary world has become controlled by "interests," suggesting it is driven by individual gain, energy, and product success. This shift is compared to a farewell or departure of beauty, leaving the world knotted in "avarice and sadness." These words communicate that, in the absence of a unifying aesthetic or spiritual gratitude for charm, society threats falling under greed ("avarice") and emotional vacuum or discontent ("unhappiness").

By regreting beauty's withdrawal from modern-day life, Balthasar suggests that the pursuit of charm, which transcends simple functionality, is essential to accomplishing a deeper understanding of ourselves and our culture. Without it, we run the risk of lowering our world to superficial procedures and sacrificing the extensive joy and inspiration that beauty can provide. This interpretation challenges us to reconsider the worths we focus on and recognize the long-lasting value of charm as more than simply a visual experience, however as an essential component of a fulfilling human life.