What I have here said and before concerning proportion, is by no means to persuade people absurdly to neglect the idea of use in the works of art.

It is only to show that these excellent things, beauty and proportion, are not the same; not that they should either of them be disregarded.
SECTION VIII.
THE RECAPITULATION.
On the whole; if such parts in human bodies as are found proportioned, were likewise constantly found beautiful, as they certainly are not; or if they were so situated, as that a pleasure might flow from the comparison, which they seldom are; or if any assignable proportions were found, either in plants or animals, which were always attended with beauty, which never was the case; or if, where parts were well adapted to their purposes, they were constantly beautiful, and when no use appeared, there was no beauty, which is contrary to all experience; we might conclude that beauty consisted in proportion or utility.

But since, in all respects, the case is quite otherwise; we may be satisfied that beauty does not depend on these, let it owe its origin to what else it will.
SECTION IX.
PERFECTION NOT THE CAUSE OF BEAUTY.
There is another notion current, pretty closely allied to the former; that _perfection_ is the constituent cause of beauty.

This opinion has been made to extend much further than to sensible objects.

But in these, so far is perfection, considered as such, from being the cause of beauty; that this quality, where it is highest, in the female sex, almost always carries with it an idea of weakness and imperfection.
Women are very sensible of this; for which reason they learn to lisp, to totter in their walk, to counterfeit weakness, and even sickness.