Henry Adams in:Mont-Saint-Michel and Chartres, Digireads.com Publishing, 1 January 2004, p. 89
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The rudest ruffian of the Middle Ages, when he looked at this Last Judgement, laughed for what was the Last Judgment to her! An ornament, a plaything, a pleasure! a jewelled decoration which she wore on her breast! Her chief joy was to pardon; her eternal instinct was to love; her deepest passion was pity!
— Henry Adams on Decoration
What It Means
This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "The rudest ruffian of the Middle Ages, when he looked at this Last Judgement, laughed for what was the Last Judgment to her! An ornament, a plaything, a pleasure! a jewelled decoration which she wore on her breast! Her chief joy was to pardon; her eternal instinct was to love; her deepest passion was pity!" in the context of "Henry Adams in:Mont-Saint-Michel and Chartres, Digireads.com Publishing, 1 January 2004, p. 89" to mean that wisdom is timeless.
Source: Wikiquote: "Decoration" (Quotes: Quotes are arranged alphabetically by author, A - F)
The 'What it means' explanation text was generated by Google Gemini Flash (accessed January 18, 2026). https://gemini.google.com/app
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About Henry Adams
Henry Brooks Adams (16 February 1838 – 27 March 1918) was a U.S. historian, journalist, novelist and educator. He was the great-grandson of John Adams, grandson of John Quincy Adams and son of Charles Francis Adams, Sr.
About Henry Adams
Henry Brooks Adams (16 February 1838 – 27 March 1918) was a U.S. historian, journalist, novelist and educator. He was the great-grandson of John Adams, grandson of John Quincy Adams and son of Charles Francis Adams, Sr.
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