In Annie Dillard's "Teaching a Stone to Talk," she reflects on the relationship between darkness and the beauty of the stars. She suggests that while one may choose to embrace the darkness to appreciate the stars fully, it is not a requirement. This implies that the beauty surrounding us can be observed without actively seeking out hardship or difficulty.
Dillard's words encourage us to find moments of light and wonder in our lives without necessarily enduring darkness. The stars symbolize hope and inspiration, and while they might be more visible in the dark, they exist independently of it, reminding us to seek joy and beauty, even in seemingly mundane circumstances.