# What is beauty?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-beauty/240858
**Category:** Great Debates
**Created:** [April 19, 2004, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-beauty/240858 "2004-04-19T17:55:41Z")
**Posts on this page:** 2
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@notquitekarpov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notquitekarpov)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2004, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-beauty/240858/21 "2004-04-22T17:00:44Z")
“One should own nothing except that which you know to be useful or believe to be beautiful”
Tricky to live up to, of course.
Most of what I believe to be beautiful however is incapable of ownership, transitory, fleeting experiences - a certain smile, or laugh, landcape view in a certain light, certain paintings that give you a lift everytime you see them. A clear night sky full of stars. Obviously all individual assessments rather than universals.
I have to admit to a believing that softtop E-Type Jaguars and Ferrari 250 GTOs are rather beautiful too though, shallow though it may be… 🙂
---
### Author:  [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2004, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-beauty/240858/22 "2004-04-22T17:02:59Z")
> [@II Gyan II](#):
>
> Not sure if you’re replying to me, but since I’m the only one in between your posts, I’ll assume so. . . .
Wasn’t replying; was elucidating my own post.
[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-beauty/240858.md?page=1)