Портрет художника в юности

           Truthisbeheldbytheintellectwhichisappeasedbythemostsatisfyingrelationsoftheintelligible;beautyisbeheldbytheimaginationwhichisappeasedbythemostsatisfyingrelationsofthesensible.Thefirststepinthedirectionoftruthistounderstandtheframeandscopeoftheintellectitself,tocomprehendtheactitselfofintellection.Aristotle’sentiresystemofphilosophyrestsuponhisbookofpsychologyandthat,Ithink,restsonhisstatementthatthesameattributecannotatthesametimeandinthesameconnexionbelongtoandnotbelongtothesamesubject.Thefirststepinthedirectionofbeautyistounderstandtheframeandscopeoftheimagination,tocomprehendtheactitselfofestheticapprehension.Isthatclear?

           —Butwhatisbeauty?askedLynchimpatiently.Outwithanotherdefinition.Somethingweseeandlike!IsthatthebestyouandAquinascando?

           —Letustakewoman,saidStephen.—Letustakeher!saidLynchfervently.—TheGreek,theTurk,theChinese,theCopt,theHottentot,saidStephen,alladmireadifferenttypeoffemalebeauty.Thatseemstobeamazeoutofwhichwecannotescape.Isee,however,twowaysout.Oneisthishypothesis:thateveryphysicalqualityadmiredbymeninwomenisindirectconnexionwiththemanifoldfunctionsofwomenforthepropagationofthespecies.Itmaybeso.Theworld,itseems,isdrearierthanevenyou,Lynch,imagined.FormypartIdislikethatwayout.Itleadstoeugenicsratherthantoesthetic.