"We are humiliated by what is powerful and mean but awed by what is powerful and noble." The sublime reminds us "that the universe is mightier than we are, that we are frail and temporary and have no alternative but to accept limitations on our will; that we must bow to necessities greater than ourselves."No matter what our aspirations and accomplishments, we're all just dust to dust. This sentiment is actually encouraging to me...kinda takes the pressure off, you know?
For more reading on the sublime, refer to Mr. Burke.