“The real and proper question is: why is it beautiful?”

— Annie Dillard, book Pilgrim at Tinker Creek

Source: Pilgrim at Tinker Creek

Last update June 3, 2021. History

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Annie Dillard63

American writer 1945

Timothy Quill (1901–1960) Early Dáil member, cooperative organiser, agriculturalist

Irish Independent (1943)
By Quill:, 1940s

“Thats beautiful! Sad and beautiful," murmured Meggie. Why were sad stories often so beautiful? It was different in real life.”

Cornelia Funke Inkheart trilogy

Source: Inkheart

“To ask the proper question is half of knowing.”
Prudens quaestio dimidium scientiae.

Roger Bacon (1220–1292) medieval philosopher and theologian

Cited in: LIFE, 8 sept 1958, p. 73
Variant translation: Half of science is asking the right questions.

“The first question I ask myself when something doesn't seem to be beautiful is why do I think it's not beautiful. And very shortly you discover that there is no reason.”

John Cage (1912–1992) American avant-garde composer

“He questioned softly "Why I failed"?
"For Beauty," I replied.
"And I — for Truth, — Themself are One —
We Brethren, are", He said —”

Emily Dickinson (1830–1886) American poet

449: I died for Beauty —
The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson (1960)
Context: I died for Beauty — but was scarce
Adjusted in the Tomb,
When One who died for Truth, was lain
In an adjoining Room — He questioned softly "Why I failed"?
"For Beauty," I replied.
"And I — for Truth, — Themself are One —
We Brethren, are", He said —

“What was it to love someone, what was love exactly, and why did it end or not end? Those were the real questions, and who could answer them?”

Patricia Highsmith book The Price of Salt

Source: The Price of Salt

“I had the same questions for Superman as I did for God: If he was so powerful, why didn’t he deal with some real problems?”

Charles de Lint (1951) author

“Bird Bones and Wood Ash”, p. 169
The Ivory and the Horn (1996)
Context: I had the same questions for Superman as I did for God: If he was so powerful, why didn’t he deal with some real problems? Why didn’t he stop wars, feed the starving in Ethiopia, cure cancer? At least God had the Church to do His PR work for Him — if you can buy their reasoning, they have any number of explanations ranging from how the troubles of this life build character to that inarguable catchall, “God’s will.” And the crap in this life sure makes heaven look good.
When I was growing up, the writers and artists of Superman never even tried to deal with the problem. And since they didn’t, I could only see Superman as a monster, not a hero. I couldn’t believe his battles with criminals, superpowered geniuses and the like.
I never believed in God either.