"Whenever, at a party, I have been in the mood to study fools, I have always looked for a great beauty: they always gather round her like flies around a fruit stall"
- Jean Paul
About this Quote
In this quote, Jean Paul offers a sharp social commentary on human habits, specifically at celebrations like parties. The statement is both an observation and a critique of societal dynamics focused on charm and superficiality.
Jean Paul begins by presenting the setting of a celebration, a social microcosm where human interactions are magnified and varied personalities are put on display screen. His self-characterization as being "in the mood to study fools" positions him as an observer within this environment, one who is separated and important. This sets the phase for his analysis of the habits he keeps in mind.
The centerpiece of his observation is the "great charm," a figure who embodies social perfects of physical appearance. This private becomes a gravitational center, a focal point drawing attention from those around her. The recommendation to "fools" implies a vital stance towards those who look for the charm, highlighting a viewed absence of depth or beneficial qualities in their character. Jean Paul's option of words conveys a sense of judgment, suggesting that their adoration is lost or shallow.
The metaphor of flies collecting "around a fruit stall" further stresses this concept. Flies are frequently seen as insects, driven by impulse instead of reason, swarming towards something only since it is appealing or attractive on the surface. This contrast recommends that those holding on to the beauty are driven by primal desires, lacking genuine insight or worthwhile motivations.
Jean Paul's quote, therefore, reviews the superficial nature of human interactions driven by appeal, pointing to a more comprehensive commentary on values that prioritize appearance over substance. It challenges us to review our understandings of worth and the frequently undervalued depth in human character beyond physical allure. Through his brilliant metaphor and keen observation, Jean Paul welcomes readers to reconsider their own roles and responses in such social contexts.
This quote is written / told by Jean Paul between March 21, 1763 and November 14, 1825. He was a famous Author from Germany.
The author also have 47 other quotes.
"To be really great in little things, to be truly noble and heroic in the insipid details of everyday life, is a virtue so rare as to be worthy of canonization"
"The one pervading evil of democracy is the tyranny of the majority, or rather of that party, not always the majority, that succeeds, by force or fraud, in carrying elections"
