QuoteProject
I frequently observe that one pretty face would be followed by five and thirty frights.
Jane Austen
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

Attractiveness can often overshadow deeper qualities, revealing an imbalance in how we perceive beauty.

In this quote, Jane Austen reflects on the societal tendency to be captivated by physical beauty, suggesting that while one attractive individual may catch our attention, they are often surrounded by many who do not possess the same appeal. This observation highlights a superficiality in attraction, where a single beautiful face can starkly contrast with others perceived as less attractive, prompting a consideration of the deeper attributes that define true worth beyond appearances.

Themes

BeautyAttractionUglinessPerceptionSociety

In practice

Example use cases

In a discussion about societal standards of beauty and how they affect self-esteem.

More from Jane Austen

I pay very little regard...to what any young person says on the subject of marriage. If they profess a disinclination for it, I only set it down that they have not yet seen the right person.
Jane AustenRead
Nobody could catch cold by the sea; nobody wanted appetite by the sea; nobody wanted spirits; nobody wanted strength. Sea air was healing, softening, relaxing - fortifying and bracing - seemingly just as was wanted - sometimes one, sometimes the other. If the sea breeze failed, the seabath was the certain corrective; and where bathing disagreed, the sea air alone was evidently designed by nature for the cure.
Jane AustenRead
He certainly is very agreeable, and I give you leave to like him. You have liked many a stupider person.
Jane AustenRead
A person who is knowingly bent on bad behavior, gets upset when better behavior is expected of them.
Jane AustenRead
You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope. Tell me not that I am too late, that such precious feelings are gone for ever.
Jane AustenRead
She hoped to be wise and reasonable in time; but alas! Alas! She must confess to herself that she was not wise yet.
Jane AustenRead

Similar quotes

My chief occupation, despite appearances, has always been love.
Albert CamusRead
Allure is a word very few people use nowadays, but it's something that exists. Allure holds you, doesn't it? Whether it's a gaze or a glance in the street or a face in the crowd or someone sitting opposite you at lunch... you are held
Diana VreelandRead
Greeting cards routinely tell us everybody deserves love. No. Everybody deserves clean water. Not everybody deserves love all the time.
Zadie SmithRead
If you want to be loved, be loveable.
OvidRead
Maybe this is why Misty loved him. Loved you. Because you believed in her so much more than she did. You expected more from her than she did from herself.
Chuck PalahniukRead
As Dostoevski said: 'Love in action is a harsh and dreadful thing compared with love in dreams.
Dorothy DayRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.