Enduring Beauty

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  “Beauty is the quality which makes to endure. In a house that I know, I have noticed a block of spermaceti lying about closets and mantel-pieces, for twenty years together, simply because the tallow-man gave it the form of a rabbit; and, I suppose, it may continue to be lugged about unchanged for a century. Let an artist scrawl a few lines or figures on the back of a letter, and that scrap of paper is rescued from danger, is put in portfolio, is framed and glazed, and, in proportion to the beauty of the lines drawn, will be kept for centuries. Burns writes a copy of verses, and sends them to a newspaper, and the human race take charge of them that they shall not perish.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson. (1803–1882).   Essays and English Traits.

Plutarch’s “Moralia”

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“They say those discourses,” the Greek philosopher Plutarch (46-120 AD) writes, “like friends, are best and surest that come to our refuge and aid in adversity, and are useful.” This is an appropriate summation of his 26 chapter work called “Moralia.” This work contains sage advice on topics including  education, love, virtue and vice, marriage, parenting, character development, friends and enemies, divine punishment, grief and consolation, borrowing money and even talkitiveness. Each thought-provoking chapter can be read “devotional” style. If you keep a journal, each chapter could fuel your thoughts for reflection. I found my copy at no cost in the public domain on Kindle. 


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