"One of the most beautiful passages of Rousseau is that in the sixth book of Confessions, where he describes the awakening in him of the literary sense. Of such wisdom, the poetic passion, the desire of beauty, the love of art for its own sake, has most"

Walter Pater’s observation draws attention to a pivotal moment in Rousseau’s *Confessions*, a moment that resonates with the transformative power of discovering one’s own artistic and literary sensibilities. Pater praises Rousseau’s depiction of the “awakening...of the literary sense”, a profound internal shift in which the individual becomes newly attuned to the world of imagination, beauty, and aesthetic contemplation. It is an experience that transcends mere reading or superficial appreciation; it is the dawning of new faculties, the emergence of “poetic passion” and “desire of beauty” that are directed not toward any utilitarian goal but the pursuit of art for its own sake.

Such an awakening has a double-edged wisdom to it. On one hand, it signals the beginning of a richer inner life, a sensitivity to nuances, emotions, and the haunting appeal of what is artistically crafted. Rousseau does not simply recount a love for stories or language, but rather reveals a shift in how he experiences the world, life becomes charged with poetic possibility, with emotional depth and creative longing. Pater sees in Rousseau’s narrative a microcosm of what all true lovers of art encounter: the moment when beauty compels attention for its own intrinsic worth, when the “love of art for its own sake” surpasses societal, moral, or practical considerations.

Pater’s focus on this passage underscores his own aesthetic philosophy, where art and beauty are valued above all for their capacity to expand perception and invigorate emotion. The “wisdom” involved is subtle and paradoxical, for it defies didactic function and embraces the mystery of artistic enchantment. This is not a knowledge to be put to work; rather, it is a sensitive disposition, one that heightens enjoyment, encourages contemplation, and opens the self to an ever-renewing wonder toward life and art. Thus, the passage Pater singles out is celebrated for chronicling not only Rousseau’s personal transformation, but also the universal and timeless spark that ignites the creative spirit.