The butterfly's attractiveness derives not only from colors and symmetry: deeper motives contribute to it. We would not think them so beautiful if they did not fly, or if they flew straight and briskly like bees, or if they stung . . .
Source: Other People's Trades, Butterflies, 1985; tr. 1989.
-- Primo Levi, (Jul 31 1919-1987), Italian-Jewish writer, chemist; He was noted for his restrained and moving autobiographical account of and reflections on survival in the Nazi concentration camps.