"'Beauty is truth, truth beauty,' — that is all Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know."

Who said it? John Keats in Ode to a Grecian Urn

Why it’s interesting: Deceptively simple, this famous quote remains the center of much debate. Does the quote teach us the lesson that beauty and truth are, indeed, one in the same? Or does the last phrase of the poem, “that is all Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know,” simply refer to the urn’s limited ability to express the true range of human experience?

About John Keats: Born October 31, 1795, John Keats was one of the poets who defined the English Romantic movement.

Read more: The Complete Poems of John Keats

What do you think this quote means?

DISCUSSION:

2 comments so far...

• 1 Jen H // Nov 2, 2008 at 1:30 pm

  My take? That to observe truth is beauty. How beautiful it is to acknowledge and express gratitude for truth in all things, such as art, nature, friendship, life.

• 2 Rhea // Apr 2, 2013 at 1:46 am

  One of my favourite quotes! :)
  I think Keats says it out of sheer enligtenment of truth and beauty being one!

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