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There's the pity of it. Elaine Cheeseman's not as young as…

“There's the pity of it. Elaine Cheeseman's not as young as you; she's forty, maybe. But she's not bad-looking at all. If she took the trouble to dress properly, and occasionally she smiled instead of keeping a frozen, holy-zeal look as though she were goin' to the Crusades instead of only to the…” quote by Carter Dickson
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““There's the pity of it. Elaine Cheeseman's not as young as you; she's forty, maybe. But she's not bad-looking at all. If she took the trouble to dress properly, and occasionally she smiled instead of keeping a frozen, holy-zeal look as though she were goin' to the Crusades instead of only to the polling-station, she might even be a bit of a smasher.””

Carter Dickson

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A character is judged harshly for age and demeanor, but could be more appealing if she softened her rigid presentation.

In simple terms: Looks and attitude affect how others perceive us.

Key Takeaway

Relax your image to improve social perception.

Themes

appearance perception age social interaction

Mood

reflective critical observational

Type

advice analysis commentary

When to use this quote

  • dating
  • career networking
  • public speaking
  • social media profiles

Key Concepts

self-presentation judgment confidence

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does rigid self-presentation limit connections?
  • Can authenticity outweigh polished appearance?
A Different Perspective

Changing appearance may not address deeper personality issues.

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