The clouds had gathered, within the last half-hour. The light was dull; the distance was dim. The lovely face of Nature met us, soft and still and colourless — met us without a smile.

Wilkie Collins
About This Quote

I’m not sure that this is a real quote or just a paraphrase. The idea that the smile of nature is missing, I think, comes from the idea that people try to make things look beautiful to make themselves happy. But beauty is not something you can create. It is something you must discover for yourself.

I don’t think that beauty can be found in nature because nature is constantly changing. If you are constantly looking at the same thing over and over again, I don’t think it can be called beauty anymore.

Source: The Moonstone

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