I choose art and beauty, vague as
those terms are, against ugliness and horrors in which we live today. For somebody to look at a flower or listen to
music does something to one, has a positive effect, and being surrounded by
ugliness and horror does something negative.
So I feel my duty not to betray those poets, scientists, saints, singers,
troubadours of the past centuries who did everything that humanity would become
more beautiful. - Jonas Mekas, via Happiness is a Choice You Make
