#Beauty

Auden’s Measure of a Life Well Lived

Finally, Auden’s vision is strikingly democratic. He does not reserve meaning for geniuses or heroes; instead, he proposes tasks available to almost everyone, regardless of status: be of use where you are, speak bravely within your sphere, and keep your eyes open to beauty. This echoes the quiet ethics found in George Eliot’s *Middlemarch* (1871–72), where “unhistoric acts” shape countless lives. In affirming that such a pattern of living is enough, Auden eases the pressure to be exceptional while still calling for seriousness of purpose. Meaning, in his account, emerges less from extraordinary events than from ordinary fidelity to these three enduring commitments. [...]

Letting Beauty and Work Lead You Homeward

Yet Browning immediately balances this vision with something more rugged: “work as your compass.” A compass does not show the whole landscape; it gives a steady, practical orientation—north, south, where to take the next step. Work in this sense is not merely a job, but any sustained effort to bring beauty’s vision into concrete form. While the map of beauty shows where our heart wants to go, work keeps us from drifting into daydreams, continuously reorienting us amid distractions, doubt, and setbacks. In this way, daily discipline and craft refine our direction, ensuring that our admiration for beauty turns into lived commitment rather than passive longing. [...]

Seeing the Beauty Around You - Thomas Merton

The quote encourages resilience, suggesting that one's ability to identify beauty amidst challenges can provide moments of solace and strength. [...]

Life Indeed Is a Beautiful Struggle — Talib Kweli

This quote highlights the balance between beauty and hardship in life. It suggests that even though life presents challenges, there is still something inherently beautiful in the struggle to overcome them. [...]

Everything Has Beauty, But Not Everyone Sees It - Confucius

Confucius, a major Chinese philosopher, often contemplated human nature and the moral fabric of society, suggesting that understanding beauty is integral to personal and communal growth. [...]

Colors Are the Smiles of Nature - Leigh Hunt

Colors often evoke emotions and feelings within us. The idea that they are 'smiles' implies a positive, uplifting experience when encountering nature. [...]

Clouds Add Color to My Sunset Sky - Rabindranath Tagore

Tagore emphasizes adopting a positive perspective towards life's challenges. Rather than viewing obstacles as purely negative, one can find beauty and growth in them. [...]