De Gustibus et Coloribus
De Gustibus et Coloribus Non Est Disputandum
Or: Why A Masterpiece Looks Like A “Meh”
Some sayings survive for thousands of years because human nature stubbornly refuses to evolve.
Take this one:
De gustibus et coloribus non est disputandum.
There is no disputing matters of taste and colors.
The Romans probably weren’t arguing about AI-generated images over a cup of espresso, but they certainly knew what it was like to have someone wrinkle their nose at something they loved.
Fast-forward two thousand years.
One person gazes at a minimalist painting and whispers, “Pure genius.” Another tilts their head and says, “My toddler did something similar with mashed potatoes.“
Who’s right?
Probably both.
The Curious Thing About Taste
We like to believe our opinions are objective.
“That movie deserved the Oscar.”
“This is the best pizza in the world.”
“Blue is obviously better than green.”
Then someone calmly disagrees, and suddenly civilization hangs by a thread.
Taste is wonderfully irrational.
The same sunset can inspire one photographer, bore another, and remind a third that they forgot to take the laundry off the line.
Beauty Isn’t a Spreadsheet
Imagine if beauty could be measured.
You’d simply enter:
- Composition: 9.3
- Lighting: 8.8
- Creativity: 9.1
Press Enter.
Congratulations.
You’ve scientifically proven your favourite picture is superior.
Except… you haven’t.
Because someone else is still looking at another image thinking, “Yes… but this one makes me smile.” And that tiny sentence changes everything.
We Vote With Our Hearts First
Whether it’s books, music, food, paintings, or photographs, we rarely begin with logic.
We begin with emotion.
Only afterward does our brain arrive carrying a clipboard full of explanations.
“I liked the composition.”
“The colours were balanced.”
“The symbolism spoke to me.”
Perhaps.
Or perhaps your heart had already decided three seconds earlier.
The World’s Largest Tie
Imagine asking every person on Earth to choose the most beautiful flower.
Impossible.
Some adore roses.
Others choose orchids.
Someone will proudly defend the humble dandelion.
And somewhere, an eccentric botanist is campaigning passionately for moss.
None of them are wrong.
So Why Do We Even Compare?
Because comparison is fun.
It sparks conversation.
It introduces us to ideas we’d never have imagined ourselves.
The danger begins only when we mistake popularity for universal truth.
The favourite today may be forgotten tomorrow.
The overlooked gem may become tomorrow’s classic.
History is full of artists who were ignored in their own lifetime.
The Wisdom of an Old Saying
Perhaps the Romans understood something we’ve been trying to rediscover ever since.
Taste isn’t a problem to solve.
It’s a conversation to enjoy.
So the next time someone loves a song you can’t stand…
…or chooses pineapple on pizza…
…or insists that beige is an exciting colour…
Smile.
The world would be unbearably dull if everyone admired exactly the same things.
After all…
De gustibus et coloribus non est disputandum.
Sometimes the oldest wisdom still tastes the freshest.
