Texts suitable for the canon are attributed long-lasting cultural validity. Being considered suitable for the literary canon is based on two foundations – one is alternatively called ‘life reality’, ‘Lebenswelt’, ‘social world’, or ‘historical-cultural world’, and the other one ‘poetic and aesthetic conclusiveness’. Literature, like all art, is not immaculate. It cannot be left untouched by the world. Literature rather has to prove itself in life. My essay develops the thesis that the understanding of literary works of art starts with what the German language calls ‘schöne Stellen’ (beautiful passages or citations), because both aspects, life reality and aesthetic conclusiveness, come together here.