What is the meaning of the quote if truth is beauty how come no one has their hair done in a library?

Answer 1

Well, it's rather obscure! It sounds like some profound 'words of wisdom' with an attempt at humor added. A philosophical puzzle that someone has just made up on the spot. However, let's unravel it!

First of all, is truth beauty? That's a thought! Truth is an interesting and sometimes rare commodity. Sometimes one has to search hard to find it! When found, it is like a thing of beauty! It has an appeal, with truth we know where we stand, but untruth and lies lead to uncertainty and confusion. On the basis of truth we can make sound decisions, so truth enables progress. So truth is truly a thing of beauty, to be treasured, protected, appreciated.

OK. Let's move to the library. A library is a store of information, often in 'book' form.

The three main functions of books are to educate, entertain and to inform. To be of any practical benefit, it would be reasonable to assume that books that inform and educate are 'truthful'.

So, in one way, a library is a store of truth. And, if truth is beauty, then a library is a treasure-house of beauty!

The next element of the saying is the matter of hairdressing. Head hair is an interesting feature of humans, male or female On most healthy humans it continually grows, falls out and regrows. In many cultures hair is attended to with great care. For some, the matter of hair is of no importance, but the fact that 'hair' is a 'moving target' as it were, it lends itself to being continually shaped, colored and styled, partly for functional reasons but also for aesthetic (concern for beauty) reasons!

So! At this stage in our analysis we see that 'hair' is very closely associated with 'beauty', as are books!

Then the 'philosopher' makes what appears to be a logical deduction, which goes along these lines...

# If truth is beauty, and books are truth, then books are beauty. # If truth is beauty, then beauty is truth.

# And, as hair is beauty, then hair is also truth, having much in common with books! This being so, 'Why don't people go to libraries to have their hair done?'

However, this question alone, without any preceding 'trick of logic' i.e. in its form: 'Why don't people go to libraries to have their hair done?' can be answered very easily. The answer is obviously not dependent on the conditional 'If' statement which has been added to form the conundrum posed.

The composer of the 'puzzle' is making use of metaphor ('truth is beauty') and false 'logic' to propound this 'quasi-intellectual' and perplexing and amusing riddle.

Answer 2

This quote by Lily Tomlin is meant to be humorous, playing on the idea that truth is more important than superficial appearances like having one's hair done. The quote suggests that in a place focused on knowledge and truth like a library, physical appearances are not as relevant. It challenges the societal expectation of always looking polished and highlights the value of prioritizing deeper aspects of life over superficial ones.