Like our attitude to love, truth and goodness, we seem to be confident about knowing what beauty is - certain, even dogmatic - until we think hard about the idea, whereupon all confidence flies away.

This quote by Charles Jencks explores the elusive nature of beauty and how our understanding of it parallels our attitudes toward love, truth, and goodness. Jencks suggests that, much like these profound concepts, we often feel confident and even dogmatic about what beauty is. However, this certainty tends to dissolve when we truly reflect and think deeply about the idea, revealing its complexity and subjectivity.

The meaning behind the quote highlights the tension between our instinctive beliefs and intellectual inquiry. While beauty might seem straightforward or universally agreed upon at first glance, deeper contemplation uncovers its ambiguous and multifaceted nature. This challenges us to reconsider simplistic definitions and appreciate the diverse ways beauty can be experienced and understood.

Charles Jencks, a cultural theorist and architectural historian, was known for his insights into aesthetics and postmodernism. His work often delved into how cultural values shape our perceptions of art and beauty, and this quote reflects his broader philosophical approach to questioning established ideas.

In summary, the quote reminds us that our confidence in defining beauty is often shaken by thoughtful reflection, urging openness and humility in grappling with such profound concepts. It encourages embracing the complexity and richness of beauty rather than clinging to rigid or dogmatic views.