“Beauty is no quality in things themselves: It exists merely in the mind which contemplates them; and each mind perceives a different beauty.”
This is quite possibly the best quote I've read in a long time, and it comes from another figure of the enlightenment- David Hume. While this quote was spoken long ago, I think that it remains relevant within today's society and that it's something everyone should take time to analyze and understand. Today, many people suffer from self-esteem problems- some so severe that they stem into and become severe mental illnesses and disorders that can take lives, such as anorexia and bulimia. A desire to look appealing and to be beautiful by the standards of society is something that has poisoned every generation, but I truly believe none more than my own. Mainstream media is at its peak, and if you haven't noticed, so are the statistics for mental illness. Coincidence? I don't think so. Younger people are influenced by the media far more often than should be admitted, and the results it has are sad. Discrimination within public schools and even in online communities because people have bad eyebrows, or have a little extra weight, or choose to dress differently- it's awful, and it's this discrimination that fuels people to alter themselves not for their own greater good, but to conform to a society that hates them for who they actually are. The quote referenced at the beginning of this post is simple and beautiful- beauty is a concept based on the appreciator, not some norm that can be consistently met and filled. Everyone has a different perception of beauty, and though you may be able to largely appeal to a particular group or culture, you'll never be able to seem beautiful in the eyes of all due to multiple cultural and social norms. Trying to achieve such a thing is foolish. Sunset and thunderstorms can be equally beautiful, yet they are entirely different. The same applies to humans. Be yourself. - Maddie
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