Art Quote by Ambrose Bierce
“PHYSIOGNOMY, n. The art of determining the character of another by the resemblances and differences between his face and our own, which is the standard of excellence.”
About This Quote
Physiognomy claims to infer a person’s traits by comparing facial features to one’s own, treating similarity as a measure of quality.
In simple terms: Judging character via facial resemblance.
Key Takeaway
Similarity is equated with excellence.
Themes
perception
judgment
appearance
self-reference
bias
Mood
skeptical
critical
Type
aphorism
maxim
When to use this quote
- evaluating job candidates
- making first‑impression decisions
- assessing social status
Key Concepts
physiognomy
social comparison
subjectivity
Practical Applications
- personality profiling
- bias training
Questions to Reflect On
- How does self‑bias affect our perception of others?
- What are the ethical implications of judging by appearance?
A Different Perspective
Scientific evidence shows facial features do not reliably indicate personality, making such judgments unfounded.
![“He [the "specialist"] is one who, out of all that has to be known in order to be a man of judgment, is only acquainted with one science, and even of that one only knows the small corner in which he is an active investigator. He even proclaims it as a virtue that he takes no cognisance of what lies…” quote by Jose Ortega y Gasset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/716/jose-ortega-y-gasset-1688_active_he-the-specialist-is-one-who-out-of-all_1906395.jpg)
