The Humility and Cheerfulness of Grass

'There are several lessons symbolically connected with this subject that we must not allow to escape us. Observe, the peculiar characters of the grass, which adapt it especially for the service of man, are its apparent humility, in that it seems created only for lowest service, - appointed to be trodden on, and fed upon. It’s cheerfulness, in that it seem to exult under all kinds of violence and suffering. You roll it and it is stronger the next day; you mow it, and it multiplies its shoots, as if it were grateful; you tread upon it, and it only sends up richer perfume. Spring comes, and it rejoices with all the earth, - glowing and vagriated flame of flowers, - waving in soft depth of fruit strength. Winter comes, and though it will not mock its fellow plants by growing then, it will not pine and mourn, and turn colorless or leafless as they. It is always green; and it is only the brighter and gayer for the hoar-frost.'

John Ruskin, The True and the Beautiful