Always think of what is useful and not what is beautiful. Beauty

Host: The room was filled with the soft, golden light of the setting sun, casting long, gentle shadows across the floor. Outside, the world had slowed, the evening air cooling, as if everything was winding down for the day. Jack sat at the table, his fingers lightly tapping against a book, the words of Nikolai Gogol resonating in his mind. Jeeny stood near the window, her arms crossed, her gaze directed outward, as though reflecting on the deeper meaning of the quote.

Jeeny: “I keep thinking about this quote from Nikolai Gogol: ‘Always think of what is useful and not what is beautiful. Beauty will come of its own accord.’ It’s an interesting perspective, isn’t it? That the focus should be on function, on the practical, and that beauty will naturally arise from that.”

Jack: “It’s almost like he’s saying we shouldn’t chase after beauty directly. If we focus on creating something that serves a purpose, something useful, the beauty will follow naturally. Beauty isn’t something to be forced—it’s a byproduct of the work itself, a reflection of its value and effectiveness.”

Jeeny: “Yes, exactly. It’s like Gogol is challenging the idea that beauty is the end goal. Instead, he’s saying that when you focus on making something work—when you focus on making it functional or meaningful—the beauty will reveal itself. We often think that beauty is something we must strive for, something we have to create consciously. But maybe beauty is an organic result of creating something that truly serves its purpose.”

Host: The air in the room seemed to grow quieter as their conversation deepened. Jack’s thoughts shifted, contemplating the idea that beauty isn’t something that can be manufactured directly, but something that naturally arises when the focus is on substance, on value.

Jack: “It’s interesting, because in a world where we’re often told that aesthetic is everything—that we should aim for beauty at all costs—Gogol is flipping that on its head. He’s suggesting that beauty is something that can’t be forced. It comes naturally when we focus on what truly matters. Maybe we spend too much time trying to make things look beautiful without first asking, ‘Does this thing serve a purpose? Does it work?’”

Jeeny: “That’s it. When we focus on the function of something, when we prioritize what is useful, we’re not just making something aesthetically pleasing—we’re creating something with lasting value. Beauty becomes a reflection of the purpose it serves. Think about architecture—so much of what we consider beautiful in design isn’t just about how it looks; it’s about how well it fits the environment, how it serves the people who interact with it.”

Jack: “That’s a great point. Useful design, whether in architecture, art, or even daily life, becomes beautiful because it’s effective. It’s not about forcing beauty, it’s about creating things that function well, that serve us. And the beauty becomes a natural part of that.”

Host: The room seemed to grow still, the conversation gently unfolding as they considered the deeper implications of Gogol’s words. The idea that beauty arises from purpose, from something that works, from something that serves its function, began to settle into the quiet space between them. Jack’s fingers stopped tapping on the book, his thoughts now focused inward, reflecting on how the world often emphasizes beauty over substance, when perhaps the opposite should be true.

Jack: “I think it makes sense now. If we focus on creating something that has value, that serves a real purpose, we don’t have to worry about making it beautiful. Beauty will show up on its own. It’s like beauty is a natural outcome of doing something right, doing it with integrity.”

Jeeny: “Exactly. And when we focus on what truly matters, when we build things that are meaningful, whether in art, in design, or in our lives, we stop chasing beauty. We let it emerge from the work itself. Beauty isn’t something to force or strive for—it’s something that flows naturally from creating with intention and care.”

Host: The room was quiet now, the weight of their conversation hanging between them. The idea that beauty isn’t something to be manufactured but something that arises naturally when we focus on what is truly useful and functional seemed to settle deeply in their thoughts. The light outside had faded into twilight, but the realization left an inner glow, a quiet understanding that beauty, when it’s allowed to evolve naturally, holds more lasting value than anything designed purely for appearance.