Socrates on human attraction and love: ‘Beauty is the bait which with delight allures man to...'

There is a reason beauty gets our attention so easily. We notice the person with the striking smile. We stop to admire a beautiful sunset, we remember a face we found attractive long after the conversation is over. Sometimes we cannot even explain exactly why something appeals to us because we simply feel drawn toward it.

Greek philosopher Socrates said, “Beauty is the bait which with delight allures man to enlarge his kind,” as per Brainyquote.

Socrates' words may sound like an old-fashioned way of talking about attraction, but the idea behind it is surprisingly easy to understand. Beauty can draw people together. And sometimes, that first attraction can lead to relationships, families and eventually the continuation of the human race.

Why are we so easily drawn to beauty

Just maybe think about the first time you notice someone.

Before you even know their personality, their values or even the kind of person they are, you see them, their appearance may catch your attention before anything else does.

But that does not mean appearance is everything as it simply means that beauty can be the first thing that makes us curious because when we see something we like, and want to get closer, we start a conversation, we spend more time with that person. Maybe attraction grows into affection and affection eventually becomes love.

Socrates' point seems to be that this process is not completely accidental, attraction has a purpose beyond simply making us feel good in the moment.

Beauty can be the beginning, not the destination

An interesting part of the quote is the word “bait.” While it can sound negative because bait is something used to attract or tempt. But in this context, it can be understood as beauty is what draws us in.

A beautiful face might make someone look twice. A beautiful place might make someone want to stay. A beautiful piece of music might make someone listen again.

But being attracted to something is only the beginning.

However, someone can be very attractive and still not be the right person for us, another person may not immediately catch our attention, but after spending time with them, we may find their humor, kindness or personality far more attractive than their appearance.

So that is why first impressions can be powerful but incomplete.

Attraction can lead to something much bigger

Socrates takes the idea of attraction a step further. For human beings, romantic attraction can eventually lead to relationships. What begins as a simple feeling of being drawn toward someone can become part of something much bigger like creating a family and bringing another generation into the world.

So that means beauty is not just about looks. It might be one of the things that encourages people to seek companionship.

Love can happen for many reasons. Like personality, trust, shared experiences, emotional connection and compatibility. So beauty alone can't lead a successful relationship but it might sometimes be the spark that gets things started.

Who Was Socrates

Socrates was one of ancient Greece’s most recognizable philosophers, but he was also a controversial figure in his hometown of Athens. Born around 470 BCE, he became known for his conversations, questions and sharp arguments, attracting both admirers and critics. He was even mocked in plays, with Aristophanes’ Clouds being the best-known example.

Socrates never wrote anything himself. Much of what is known about him comes from people who admired him, especially Plato and Xenophon. Through their writings, he appears as a man of insight, integrity, self-control and considerable skill in argument.

His story ended tragically. Socrates was put on trial for impiety and sentenced to death by poisoning when he was 70 years, as per a Britannica report. Plato’s Apology of Socrates presents his defense at the trial and has become an important work in Western thought and culture.