The sculptor cuts away here, smoothes there, makes this line lighter, this other purer, until he or she has shown a beautiful face upon the statue.
PLOTINUSThe sculptor cuts away here, smoothes there, makes this line lighter, this other purer, until he or she has shown a beautiful face upon the statue.
PLOTINUSMankind is poised midway between the gods and the beasts.
PLOTINUSKnowing demands the organ fitted to the object.
PLOTINUSThe vision is such that seeing and seen are one; object and act of vision have become identical.
PLOTINUSAnd this is the life of the Gods, and of Godlike men, a life without love of the world, a flight of the Alone to the Alone.
PLOTINUSWithdraw into yourself and look.
PLOTINUSCut away all that is excessive, straighten all that is crooked, bring light to all that is overcast, labour to make all one glow of beauty and never cease chiselling your statue.
PLOTINUSWhy should I consent to the perpetuation of the image of this image?
PLOTINUSNature is but an image of wisdom, the last thing of the soul; nature being a thing which doth only do, but not know.
PLOTINUSWe ourselves possess Beauty when we are true to our own being; ugliness is in going over to another order.
PLOTINUSYou can only apprehend the Infinite by a faculty that is superior to reason.
PLOTINUSIf someone with the right conduct tries to attain to something that lies outside of it, is his goal not the right conduct.
PLOTINUSBecome vision itself.
PLOTINUSAll things are filled full of signs, and it is a wise man who can learn about one thing from another.
PLOTINUSThe soul that beholds beauty becomes beautiful.
PLOTINUSBeing is desirable because it is identical with Beauty, and Beauty is loved because it is Being.
PLOTINUS