“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.”
What this quote means
John Cage here pushes us to question our aesthetic judgments. Too often, we label something as ugly without really examining why. By asking where this impression comes from, we often discover it rests on prejudices, habits, or arbitrary comparisons. This quote is a call to open-mindedness and to questioning our certainties, so we can perceive beauty where we didn't expect it.
How to apply it daily
The next time you judge something negatively, pause and ask yourself, "Why?" Dig until you find the reason, and see if it really holds up.
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