Air Quote by Angela Carter
“For all cats have this particularity, each and every one, from the meanest alley sneaker to the proudest, whitest she that ever graced a pontiff's pillow — we have our smiles, as it were, painted on. Those small, cool, quite Mona Lisa smiles that smile we must, no matter whether it's been fun or it's been not. So all cats have a politician's air; we smile and smile and so they think we're villains”
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter, 1979
Cats universally display a composed, enigmatic smile that masks true feelings, prompting humans to project intentions onto them.
In simple terms: Cats seem to smile while hiding their thoughts.
Key Takeaway
Recognize hidden emotions behind outward calm.
Themes
perception
mystery
human-animal relations
politics
identity
Mood
reflective
curious
analytical
Type
literary
observational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- observing pets
- reading body language
- political rhetoric
- personal introspection
Key Concepts
symbolism
projection
social masks
Questions to Reflect On
- Do we read our own motives onto animals?
- How does this affect our trust in others?
A Different Perspective
The smile may be a metaphor, not a literal feline expression.
![“Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs [Less Developed Countries]?... I think the economic logic behind dumping a load of toxic waste in the lowest wage country is impeccable and we should face up to that... I’ve always…” quote by Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ac4/lawrence-summers-16940_air_just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-wo_4703.jpg)
![“[A]s you partake of the world's bill of fare, that's darned good advice to follow. Do a lot of spitting out the hot air. And be careful what you swallow.” quote by Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/da8/dr-seuss-1224_advice_a-s-you-partake-of-the-world-s-bill-of-f_6806.jpg)