Rhodora! if the sages ask thee why This charm is wasted on the earth and sky, Tell them, dear, that, if eyes were made for seeing, Then beauty is its own excuse for Being.

Summary

In this quote, titled "The Rhodora," Ralph Waldo Emerson suggests that the Rhodora plant's inherent beauty and existence itself are proof enough of their significance. If questioned by wise individuals who wonder why such beauty is displayed in nature, one should simply answer that if eyes were created for the purpose of perceiving, then the very presence of beauty justifies its existence. Emerson implies that the appreciation and enjoyment of beauty need no further rationale, as its existence serves as an excuse in and of itself.

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