Skip to content

And now, these books. This. He touched PHYSIOGNOMONIE. The…

“And now, these books. This. He touched PHYSIOGNOMONIE. The secrets of the individual's character as found on his face. Were Jim and Will, then, featured all angelic, pure, half-innocent, peering up through the sidewalk at marching terror? Did the boys represent the ideal for your Woman, Man, or…” quote by Ray Bradbury
Download Open image
““And now, these books. This. He touched PHYSIOGNOMONIE. The secrets of the individual's character as found on his face. Were Jim and Will, then, featured all angelic, pure, half-innocent, peering up through the sidewalk at marching terror? Did the boys represent the ideal for your Woman, Man, or Child of Excellent Bearing, Color, Balance, and Summer Disposition? Converserly...Charles Halloway turned a page...did the scurrying freaks, the Illustrated Marvel, bear the foreheads of the Irascible, the Cruel, the Covetous, the mouths of the Lewd and Untruthful? the teeth of the Crafty, the Unstable, the Audacious, the Vainglorious, and your Marvelous Beast? No. The book slipped shut. If faces were judged, the freaks were no worse than many he'd been slipping from the liberty late nights in his long career. There was only one thing sure. Two lines of Shakespeare said it. He should write them in the middle of the clock of books, to fix the heart of his apprehension: By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes. So vague yet so immense. He did not want to live with it. Yet he knew that, during this night, unless he lived with it very well, he might have to live with it for all the rest of his life. At the window he looked out and thought Jim, Will, are you coming? will you get here? Waiting, his flesh took paleness from his bones.””

Ray Bradbury

About This Quote

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

The passage muses on the power of facial features to reveal character, linking literary archetypes to Shakespearean foreboding and personal dread.

In simple terms: Faces can hint at hidden traits, echoing classic warnings.

Key Takeaway

Beware superficial judgments; look deeper.

Themes

character analysis literary allusion psychology identity fear

Mood

thoughtful analytical

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

  • reading classic literature
  • personal introspection
  • creative writing
  • psychological analysis

Key Concepts

archetype reading Shakespeare reference

Questions to Reflect On

  • What assumptions do we make from faces?
  • How do literary warnings apply to modern life?
A Different Perspective

Overemphasis on appearance can mislead; context matters.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

More by Ray Bradbury

Explore all 1,520 Ray Bradbury quotes

More Books quotes

Browse all 59,485 Books quotes