Our sadness won’t be of the searing kind but more like a blend of joy and melancholy: joy at the perfection we see before us, melancholy at an awareness of how seldom we are sufficiently blessed to encounter anything of its kind. The flawless object throws into perspective the mediocrity that surrounds it. We are reminded of the way we would wish things always to be and of how incomplete our lives remain.

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About Alain de Botton

Alain de Botton was a contemporary British author. Alain de Botton is a Swiss-born British author and public speaker. His books discuss various contemporary subjects and themes, emphasizing philosophy's relevance to everyday life. Read more on Wikipedia →

Themes

  • Art — Creativity, expression, and the role of art in society
  • Happiness — Thoughts on finding joy, contentment, and fulfilment
  • Life — Reflections on the meaning, challenges, and beauty of life
  • Sadness — Navigating grief, melancholy, and emotional depth

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