Everything has beauty but not everyone sees it” – these are words which become apparent when we bring differing perceptions and opinions to the table. Beauty is a quality that can be argued as either subjective or objective. It can vary based one how it is perceived by each unique individual, making it subjective in nature. This means that something that appears astonishing and beautiful to one person may possibly distaste and repel the other.
On the other hand, one may insist that beauty is a feature that is universal and should appear the same despite differing viewpoints. No matter which side you are on, everyone who appreciates beauty knows that it is all around us. Using the collective perception of everyone who appreciates beauty, we can conclude that it can take the form of anything and is only limited by imagination.
The quote is often attributed to Confucius, the most famous Chinese philosopher of all time. However, there may be confusion as to the actual source of the quote.
Who Was Confucius?
The Master said, “I have not seen one who loves virtue as he loves beauty.”
Analects 9:17, Confucius
The teachings of Confucius are widely known throughout the world. He was a philosopher and teacher that focused on political theories and societal values aimed at improving the way of life both for an individual and as for society. His teachings are kept in the Analects, a book that contains his philosophical knowledge.
Born around 551 B.C. (lunar calendar) in Shandong Province, China, little is known about Confucius’ early life. Most accounts are found in Records of the Grand Historian – a historical text written early in the 1st century B.C. According to the recordings, Confucius was born into a royal family under the Zhou Dynasty – the longest-running dynasty in Chinese history.
The teachings and philosophy of Confucius were grounded on the doctrines of Ren (loving others) and the application of self-discipline in every aspect of life. These principles formed his Golden Rule: “What you do not wish for yourself, do not do to others.“ His adult life was met with a disorderly political landscape. One where political upheaval was common. This led him to construct theories that he deemed necessary for the betterment of all, most of which are based on self-discipline as opposed to the appreciation of beauty.
This leads us to an outcome that the quote may not have come from Confucius at all. After all, he lived in turbulent and fierce political climates. It may only be natural to place beauty below one’s hierarchy of values when there are more concerning matters that needed to be addressed.
What is the Meaning of the Quote?
As the saying goes, “Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.” This becomes self-evident especially if one spends plenty of time enjoying the things that he or she loves or is passionate about. Every person has his own opinion of what is beautiful. Everyone perceives their own right combination of qualities, whether abstract or concrete upon which they will ultimately deem as beautiful.
Since everyone has their own unique reason for appreciating something and choosing one over the other, it becomes clear that everything does have beauty in it, though it can’t simply be seen or appreciated by everyone else because of differing viewpoints wherein each has his or her own unique personal preference.
What outlook Confucius had on Life
Confucius spent many years seeking and studying the most practical and efficient moral values one should apply in order to not only grow but also contribute and help those around him.
The Master said, “It is virtuous manners which constitute the excellence of a neighborhood.”
Analects 4:1, Confucius
His philosophies and teachings held the foundations of Confucianism, a religion that is still practiced today. Its beliefs center around the Golden Rule – a principle of treating others as to how one desires to be treated. Everyone clearly desires to be treated in the manner they want, each having their own preference. Confucius advocated for showing sympathy to others taking into account not only by how one would want to be treated but also by taking the other person`s perspective into account. He understood that for people to live in harmony with one another, everyone must be able to successfully consider and understand the opposing views of those around them.
Expanding Your Perspective
Chances are that when you were born everything around you seemed new, strange and exciting. Things around you worked mysteriously, visiting a new place or seeing a lightning storm for the first time seemed almost ecstatic. Your family were the only ones who you felt safe with and by guiding you they helped you discover parts of this peculiar world.
As you became older however, you became familiar with your immediate environment You went to the same school for many years, lived on the same street in the same house or apartment. Perhaps your last novel experience was getting your first job and moving out of your parent`s house but some time after this you like many others may have become accustomed to the familiar and comfortable ideas and old ways of doing things.
The beauty of novel experiences is forever gone. The mundane daily tasks have taken its place. The life which once was so vibrant and colorful has now become dull and monochrome. Even though it feels like even though a lot of time has passed, you have not made much progress.
Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be like this. Instead of being stuck in complacency, you can at any moment reshape your life and get back that feeling of novelty once again. Here are some things you can try:
- Give your vision a wake up call
- Incite a positive change in your environment
- Focus on the small things
- Transcend your horizon
Nothing will make your life more exciting then having a compelling vision of it someday becoming better. If you do not have such a vision, you must create it today and you must pursue it as if it was something attainable and within your grasp. Otherwise you fall into the dangers of nihilistic thinking, and bit by bit you may loose out on the small wonders that life has to offer.
This might come as self evident, however few are willing to change their environment due to their fear of the unknown. And yet exposure to different things and places may just be enough to bring back that spark in your life and once again experience the sense of wonder.
In the midst of this busy world we may find ourselves preoccupied with goals, bills, decisions and almost mechanical approach to life. Whilst being disciplined as described in some of the previous articles is important to our long term goals.Stopping to smell the roses as they say will inevitably bring you back
to the present moment and appreciate life that much more. Make it a commitment to go for a walk at least once a week.
As we grow up we establish an immediate circle of friends or acquaintances, this can be our colleagues from work or our high school friends. Unfortunately, the ideas of our immediate circle are limited by the individuals inside it. Reading a variety of books in different fields by different authors will expand the bounds of your perspective. This will in turn make the world seem bigger than what you imagined.
Seeing the world from a different perspective will make once again rediscover beauty
in your life.
Being Open to Different Ideas and Directions
When it comes to being open to different ideas and understanding one another, keeping judgment at bay is absolutely vital. When others do not see things the way we do, instead of actively judging them, we should practice being more observant and listen attentively. Getting our judgment out of the picture and on the sidelines goes a long way in showing our openness and flexibility to those around us.
Being open also entails embracing differences, so long as it is within reason. As essential as it is to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes to see things from their side, it is also critical to embrace differences so long as they fall on core moral values that all individuals would accept, regardless of culture or upbringing.