The Eiffel Tower is one of the world’s most famous landmarks. Its creator, Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, designed it for an international exposition in eighteen eighty nine. But not everyone was as proud of his creation as he was, and many Parisians wanted it to be torn down as soon as the exposition was over. Today, of course, we find it hard to believe that people actually called it a monstrosity. But history has vindicated Alexandre Eiffel, and today he is praised.
His story reminds us that it’s not the transitory opinions and prejudices of the crowd that matter, but rather what we know to be noble and beautiful. That’s why the Bible says, ‘Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable…think about such things…and the God of peace will be with you.’