On a cold morning, a man stood in a subway station in Washington D.C. and began to play the violin. He performed selected pieces from the most beautiful compositions of the genius Bach for about 45 minutes.
During that time, about 1,100 people passed through the station — most of them on their way to work. After three minutes, a middle-aged man slowed his pace, stopped for a few seconds to listen, then hurried to catch up with his schedule. A minute later, the violinist received his first dollar! A woman tossed him the money without stopping and kept walking.
One person leaned against the wall to listen for a few minutes, then looked at his watch and started walking again — clearly late for work. The one who showed the most interest was a 3‑year‑old boy. His mother urged him to keep moving, but he stopped to look at the violinist. Eventually, the child continued walking, turning his head back the whole time. Many other children did the same. All the parents, without exception, forced their children to keep moving — and all the children, without exception, tried to stop and listen.
In 45 minutes of music, only 6 people stopped and listened for a while. About 20 people gave him money and then continued at their normal pace. At the end of the 45 minutes, he had collected $32.
When he finished and silence fell — no one noticed. No one applauded. No one realized that this violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest and most famous musicians in the world. That he played some of the most complex pieces ever written for the violin — on a violin worth $3.5 million. And that just two days before, tickets to his concert in Boston had sold for an average of $100.
Joshua Bell played in the subway station as part of an experiment organised by The Washington Post — a social study on perception and human priorities. The core idea was:
- Do we recognise beauty in an unsuitable context, at an unsuitable time?
- Do we stop to appreciate it?
- Do we recognise talent in an unexpected setting?
One possible conclusion from this experiment: If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world playing the finest music ever written for the violin — then how much of what surrounds us do we miss during our life’s journey, without ever enjoying it?
And how often do appearances fool us — making us appreciate only what others consider beautiful, rather than what truly is?
There are beautiful things around you — but you do not see them. You run after the world, trying to race against time — only to discover, when you arrive, that you have reached nothing. You have trampled over others, hurt them, stolen, deceived — and all of them await justice against you, on a day when titles you stole, fame you gained, or money you earned will be of no use. And you realise how foolish you have been.
Our days pass, and they do not stop. Events accelerate around us, and we do not look at the beauty around us. Fortify yourselves with contentment and piety. Hold on to those who truly love you. Smile at people. Do good. Stop running — and contemplate life around you. Observe the manifestations of beauty in your surroundings.
#Professor
#Nasser_Taha
