It is in books, poems, paintings which often give us the confidence to take seriously feelings in ourselves that we might otherwise never have thought to acknowledge.
Alain De BottonRead
Sublime places repeat in grand terms a lesson that ordinary life typically teaches viciously: that the universe is mightier than we are, that we are frail and temporary and have no alternative but to accept limitations on our will; that we must bow to necessities greater than ourselves.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects the idea that we must recognize and accept our limitations in the face of the vastness of the universe.
Alain De Botton's quote emphasizes the contrast between the grand lessons imparted by sublime experiences in nature and the harsh realities of ordinary life. It suggests that while we often struggle against our own limitations, ultimately, the universe is more powerful than our individual desires and ambitions, prompting us to humbly accept the forces beyond our control and acknowledge our frailty in the grand scheme of existence.
Themes
AcceptanceLimitationsHumilityUniverseExistence
In practice
Example use cases
Using this quote during a speech about the importance of humility in leadership.
More from Alain De Botton
All quotes →Taking architecture seriously therefore makes some singular and strenuous demands upon us...It means conceding that we are inconveniently vulnerable to the colour of our wallpaper and that our sense of purpose may be derailed by an unfortunate bedspread
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The more closely we analyze what we consider 'sexy,' the more clearly we will understand that eroticism is the feeling of excitement we experience at finding another human being who shares our values and our sense of the meaning of existence.
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Good books put a finger on emotions that are deeply our own - but that we could never have described on our own.
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It is the most ambitious and driven among us who are the most sorely in need of having our reckless hopes dampened through immersive dousings in the darkness which religions have explored. This is a particular priority for secular Americans, perhaps the most anxious and disappointed people on earth, for their nation infuses them with the most extreme hopes about what they may be able to achieve in their working lives and relationships.
Alain De BottonRead
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