Wisdom, Strength, and Beauty are themselves symbols of creation, since without them nothing of worth comes into existence. "Wisdom to contrive and strength to support" is obviously as true of the universe as it is of a temple. "Beauty to adorn" is often misunderstood, because of a too limited thought of the fundamentals of beauty. In any final analysis, what is beautiful becomes so in men's thoughts because of its fitness for its purpose. It is in this sense that "Beauty to Adorn" is used Masonically.
Excerpted from “Handbook for Candidate’s Coaches” By The Committee on Ritual and Donald G. Campbell, Past Grand Lecturer. Grand Lodge F.&A.M. of California.
I like to liken these three pillars to a western Yin and Yang, a true illustration of balance in the universe, exemplifying the western ideal, and how we need three elements to provide harmony and balance. Somewhat obtuse, but as the Yin and Yan symbols shows the Eastern idea of Black and White, with shades of grey in between, showing with the two dots the intermingling of the two, in the three pillars we have the dynamicism that requires the balancing act of action. Wisdom, Strength and Beauty all are only truly manifested when complementing the other.
As a matter of similar interest, I have noticed that conversational circles in a group setting always seem to settle in a 3, 5, or 7 person pattern, when two guys are talking, a third invariably turns up to balance out the dyanamic. This is a metaphysical illustration of the principle that a two legged table won't stand, but a tripod is one of the most stable structures imaginable, limited only by it strength. Even with strength and the wisdom, it has yet to satisfy the HUMAN yearning for beauty -in addition to the first two - to then function as a stable tripod. As in the third degree, it is this humanity which give the world its beauty, and the beauty which makes us human.