And it’s often absolutely free.

15 October 2024

Here is a contribution to the world from Roger Scruton, British writer and philosopher:
The great artists of the past were aware that human life is full of chaos and suffering. But they had a remedy for this. And the name of that remedy was “beauty.” The beautiful work of art brings consolation in sorrow and affirmation in joy. It shows human life to be worthwhile.
(I found this on a handout at the Imagine Museum, a treasure-house of contemporary glass art in St. Petersburg, Florida and a place which itself is food for the soul.)

Anyone whose life hasn’t included any chaos or suffering, please wave a hand out there. That would make you a very rare person.

In chaotic times, I don’t know how people get by without a story or a song or something beautiful to look at. These seem to be pretty basic antidotes for almost anything wrong. —Sure, after first aid, after the tears and the heavy lifting are over. Then it’s time for something beautiful.

Needing beauty says something about the purpose of the creative spirit in all of us. And it may be that right now the world needs some extra creation from us all to balance the chaos and destruction.

A small example of this principle at work: I remember my father, surrounded by his five noisy kids at the dinner table, stopping the squabbling by saying, “Look over there: see the way the sunset shines across the dishes, how pretty that is?” Poor man, he probably needed an escape from chaos at that moment! But in finding one, he took his family with him.

Let’s face it: beauty is refreshing, and often free or inexpensive.