Monday, March 17, 2008

On this, the first day of my spring vacation from school, I did what I most love to do: nothing of importance. I didn't check off anything on my list, or run any vital errands, or get caught up on overdue chores, or fulfill any duties, or prepare for any special events. I just breathed and looked and listened and read and wrote and thought. Nothing important.
In my reading, I came across this lovely quote in Jane Austen's Mansfield Park:

"...his eyes soon turned, like hers, towards the scene without, where all that was solemn, and soothing, and lovely, appeared in the brilliancy of an unclouded night, and the contrast of the deep shade of the woods. Fanny spoke her feelings. "Here's harmony!" said she; "here's repose! Here's what may leave all painting and all music behind, and what poetry only can attempt to describe! Here's what may tranquillise every care, and lift the heart to rapture! When I look out on such a night as this, I feel as if there could be neither wickedness nor sorrow in the world; and there certainly would be less of both if the sublimity of Nature were more attended to, and people were carried more out of themselves by contemplating such a scene."

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