who has looked long on naked beauty may never return to the world

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I thought that there were two rules in life— 

never count the cost and

 never do anything unless you can do it wholeheartedly. 

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Now is the time to live.

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~ Everett Ruess

with thanks once again to rebel girl

photo of Everett by Dorothea Lange
art by the author
song by Dave Alvin

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Beauty isolated is terrible and unbearable, 

and the unclouded sight other kills the beholder. 

His only refuge is in insignificant things, 

in labor that keeps the mind from thought, 

and in companionship that gives back to the ego some of its former virility. 
.

But he who has looked long 

on naked beauty may never return to the world, 

and though he should try, he will find 

its occupation empty and vain, 

and human intercourse purposeless and futile. 

Alone and lost, he must die on the altar of beauty.

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