Stars and blossoming fruit-trees: utter permanence and extreme fragility give an equal sense of eternity.
Meaning
Weil observes that both the unchanging stars and a delicate spring blossom can make us feel something timeless. Beauty does not need to last to matter. Next time you pass a flowering tree, stop for a full minute and let its brief life count as enough.
Source: Gravity and Grace (1947)
About the author
Simone Weil (1909–1943) was a French philosopher, mystic and political activist. She is known for her writings on attention, affliction, labour and spirituality, published mostly after her death in works such as Gravity and Grace.
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