Great Influence of Beauty

1914

Though Too Often Ignored, It Is as Deep and Useful a Part of Life as Utility

Beauty is as deep and as useful a part of our general life as is what we term utility. It has just such a reason for being; it has a similar force; it has a set place in the scheme of the world. Eyes not fully opened to the beautiful are not wholly alive to the influence of beauty upon our lives and our actions. Alas! sometimes we scoff at the highest expressions of beauty. That is to say, the highest human expression.

Those even greater beauties, which are divine expressions, we ignore.

Just think for a moment. Take yourself away from yourself and contemplate yourself and your living, set against the background of the universal scheme of things. Think of the myriads of infinitely petty, wasteful and useless thoughts and actions, desires and dislikes which occupy your day. At the moment you read this, take yourself back two years ago. Of course, you have not the slightest conception of what happened. But let me tell you that on that day, two years ago, were happening too, a dozen or a hundred things which seemed to you to be supreme importance. Do you understand how we fill our lives to the brim with millions of such trifling inconsequences? — Kansas City Star.