The world is full and fragrant with beauty, but too often we are made blind to it by our training or our circumstances. But, as the wise and ancient ones said, "there are cathedrals everywhere for those with eyes to see."

Well, actually, it wasn't the ancients. It was a 2023 meme on Twitter / X that feels as if it comes from someplace wiser and truer than just the doom scroll. But then, weren't the bards in the days of old just that era's version of social media?

Where Did 'There Are Cathedrals Everywhere For Those With Eyes To See' Come From?

The coiner of this timeless phrase is none other than Jordan Peterson, Canadian conservative commentator and internet personality. Other memes which Peterson has made popular include "Up yours, woke moralists" and the unforgettable (and highly not appropriate for work) CCP milking factory tweet.

Peterson observed light traveling through a plastic bottle of Evian water while apparently sitting on a plane, and saw the beauty inherent in that mundane, everyday vision. At the time, posters speculated about Peterson's sobriety, but some people understood the vibe he was on.

What Does 'There Are Cathedrals Everywhere For Those With Eyes To See' Mean?

Cathedrals are the archetypical type of labor-intensive and intricate Western art. The cathedral has been something of a trope on Twitter / X and in the rightwing internet commentator space, with memes like "My father-in-law is a builder" referencing the beauty of cathedrals.

This meme is all about finding stuff in the manmade or natural environment which is generally not regarded as beautiful or worthy of deep contemplation, and taking the time to really pay attention. It might refer to a kind of mindfulness practice, a pointed insistence on finding beauty in the landscape of McDonald's locations and mass-produced consumer goods.

Why Do People Post It Still?

People are always searching for beauty and meaning, and this phrase helps them post about what they find. There's also a kind of bragging involved: if you've noticed the beauty in the mundane, then it means you have the eyes to see, and those other people, who might just throw that plastic water bottle in the recycling bin, are eyeless and unenlightened.

---

For the full history of "There are cathedrals everywhere for those with eyes to see," be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.