A week ago in my travel writing class, we read an excerpt from a book titled The Art of Travel by Alain de Botton. We read the chapter titled 'On the Sublime,' and I tell you what- I loved it.
In this chapter, Botton discusses the idea of "sublime." Essentially, sublime is a word that can be used to describe the places that bring about emotions that cannot be properly conveyed with one word or even a strain of words. A word for places that bring about a feeling that is "both pleasurable and morally good" as he put it. This word- sublime- originates all the way back to 200 A.D. from the Greek author Longinus but was only made popular or brought to the attention of critics once again in 1712 when the original essay was retranslated to English.
Over the weekend I was fortunate enough to travel to Interlaken, Switzerland and see the Swiss Alps. Wow. There are no words but one: sublime. It's truly an indescribable feeling to be surrounded by such beauty. Beauty that man cannot take an ounce of credit for, which is in great contrast to all the wonderful art and cathedrals I have seen the last month. We as humans are capable of extraordinary feats; something I find quite notable when I pass by the Duomo in Florence. However, most places that bring about this feeling of sublime never depended on human capability.
Towards the end of the chapter, Botton brings up a much deeper insight into these places one can consider sublime. He goes on to say these places gently remind us of a life lesson that regular life tends to introduce most tragically: the world is much more powerful than us. And while these places are often much greater and mightier than man, he continues to say they tend to bring a feeling of inspiration versus fear. A feeling that he states may even lead to a desire to worship. A feeling that leads to an understanding that these places were put here by forces greater than any human could ever fathom, and that force is God.
Seeking out the places that possess the ability to bring about this sublime feeling are also the places we see God's artistry the most. My advice is to go and see as much as possible because as my man, Louie would put it, "what a wonderful world."
In this chapter, Botton discusses the idea of "sublime." Essentially, sublime is a word that can be used to describe the places that bring about emotions that cannot be properly conveyed with one word or even a strain of words. A word for places that bring about a feeling that is "both pleasurable and morally good" as he put it. This word- sublime- originates all the way back to 200 A.D. from the Greek author Longinus but was only made popular or brought to the attention of critics once again in 1712 when the original essay was retranslated to English.
Over the weekend I was fortunate enough to travel to Interlaken, Switzerland and see the Swiss Alps. Wow. There are no words but one: sublime. It's truly an indescribable feeling to be surrounded by such beauty. Beauty that man cannot take an ounce of credit for, which is in great contrast to all the wonderful art and cathedrals I have seen the last month. We as humans are capable of extraordinary feats; something I find quite notable when I pass by the Duomo in Florence. However, most places that bring about this feeling of sublime never depended on human capability.
Towards the end of the chapter, Botton brings up a much deeper insight into these places one can consider sublime. He goes on to say these places gently remind us of a life lesson that regular life tends to introduce most tragically: the world is much more powerful than us. And while these places are often much greater and mightier than man, he continues to say they tend to bring a feeling of inspiration versus fear. A feeling that he states may even lead to a desire to worship. A feeling that leads to an understanding that these places were put here by forces greater than any human could ever fathom, and that force is God.
Seeking out the places that possess the ability to bring about this sublime feeling are also the places we see God's artistry the most. My advice is to go and see as much as possible because as my man, Louie would put it, "what a wonderful world."
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