--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are few faces that can afford to…" description: "\"There are few faces that can afford to smile: a smile is sometimes bewitching, in general vapid, often a contortion.\" — Benjamin Disraeli" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ca/benjamin-disraeli-390_faces_there-are-few-faces-that-can-afford-to-s_763126.png" --- # There are few faces that can afford to smile: a smile is… ![“There are few faces that can afford to smile: a smile is sometimes bewitching, in general vapid, often a contortion.” quote by Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ca/benjamin-disraeli-390_faces_there-are-few-faces-that-can-afford-to-s_763126.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ca/benjamin-disraeli-390_faces_there-are-few-faces-that-can-afford-to-s_763126.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ca/benjamin-disraeli-390_faces_there-are-few-faces-that-can-afford-to-s_763126.png) > “There are few faces that can afford to smile: a smile is sometimes bewitching, in general vapid, often a contortion.” [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Smile can be alluring but often masks emptiness or distortion, reflecting social pretenses. **In simple terms:** Smiles may hide emptiness. Key Takeaway Beware superficial charm. Themes appearance authenticity social masks Mood cautious critical Type observational philosophical When to use this quote - political gatherings - court interactions - public speaking - media appearances Key Concepts psychology social performance Questions to Reflect On - Do you trust a smile? - When does a smile become manipulative? A Different Perspective Smiles can be genuine; context matters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Smile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smile/) ## Related quotes > [They can afford to smile because they all have teeth so dazzling if they dropped them in the snow they'd be lost forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-mccourt/they-can-afford-to-smile-because-they-all-have-teeth-so-dazzling-if/) [Frank McCourt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-mccourt/) > [I had a moment when I first got on Supernatural when I was like, omg, people are paying attention to me and I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misha-collins/i-had-a-moment-when-i-first-got-on-supernatural-when-i-was-like-omg/) [Misha Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misha-collins/) > [People have nothing to say, but they are afraid of saying nothing, so what they do say comes out flat and vapid and meaningless.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-s-burroughs/people-have-nothing-to-say-but-they-are-afraid-of-saying-nothing-so/) [William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-burroughs/) > [The consumer isn't a moron; she is your wife. You insult her intelligence if you assume that a mere slogan and a few vapid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ogilvy/the-consumer-isn-t-a-moron-she-is-your-wife-you-insult-her/) [David Ogilvy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ogilvy/) > [Dictators cause the world's worst problems: all the collapsed states, and all the devastated economies. All the vapid cases of corruption, grand theft, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-ayittey/dictators-cause-the-world-s-worst-problems-all-the-collapsed-states/) [George Ayittey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-ayittey/) > [Anonymous blog comments, vapid video pranks and lightweight mash-ups may seem trivial and harmless, but as a whole, this widespread practice of fragmentary, impersonal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaron-lanier/anonymous-blog-comments-vapid-video-pranks-and-lightweight-mash-ups/) [Jaron Lanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaron-lanier/) > [I wanted to be an actor from a young age, but actually becoming one and seen the ugly side of the world does feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-kranz/i-wanted-to-be-an-actor-from-a-young-age-but-actually-becoming-one/) [Fran Kranz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-kranz/) > [“At present, a good many men engaged in scientific pursuits, and who have signally failed in gaining recognition among their fellows, are endeavoring to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/at-present-a-good-many-men-engaged-in-scientific-pursuits-and-who/) [Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/) > [Imagination applied to the whole world is vapid in comparison to imagination applied to a detail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stevens/imagination-applied-to-the-whole-world-is-vapid-in-comparison-to/) [Wallace Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stevens/) > [There is nothing more vulgar than a petty bourgeois life with its halfpence, its victuals, its futile talk, and its useless conventional virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/there-is-nothing-more-vulgar-than-a-petty-bourgeois-life-with-its/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [England has never enjoyed a genuine social revolution. Maybe that's what's wrong with that dear, tepid, vapid, insipid, stuffy, little country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/england-has-never-enjoyed-a-genuine-social-revolution-maybe-that-s/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [When friends grow cold, and the converse of intimates languishes into vapid civility and commonplace, these only continue the unaltered countenance of happier days,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/when-friends-grow-cold-and-the-converse-of-intimates-languishes-into/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [I have always had this very strong, call it a feeling, call it a prejudice, call it a conviction ... that the mysteries are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/i-have-always-had-this-very-strong-call-it-a-feeling-call-it-a/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [She stared at him in that vapid, intoxicated way employed only by women under a vamp's control. Or the way I sometimes got when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiersten-white/she-stared-at-him-in-that-vapid-intoxicated-way-employed-only-by/) [Kiersten White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiersten-white/) > [Everyone suffers; life is pain; and death is the final punctuation at the end of that sentence, so deal with it. I really think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sufjan-stevens/everyone-suffers-life-is-pain-and-death-is-the-final-punctuation-at/) [Sufjan Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sufjan-stevens/) ## More by Benjamin Disraeli > [Next to the assumption of power was the responsibility of relinquishing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/next-to-the-assumption-of-power-was-the-responsibility-of/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [We make our fortunes and we call them fate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/we-make-our-fortunes-and-we-call-them-fate/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [The European talks of progress because by the aid of a few scientific discoveries he has established a society which has mistaken comfort for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/the-european-talks-of-progress-because-by-the-aid-of-a-few-scientific/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [It shows you exactly how a star is formed; nothing else can be so pretty! A cluster of vapor, the cream of the milky…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/it-shows-you-exactly-how-a-star-is-formed-nothing-else-can-be-so/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Terror has its inspiration, as well as competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/terror-has-its-inspiration-as-well-as-competition/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [I am prepared for the worst, but hope for the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/i-am-prepared-for-the-worst-but-hope-for-the-best/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Religion should be the rule of life, not a casual incident in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/religion-should-be-the-rule-of-life-not-a-casual-incident-in-it/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Frank and explicit - that is the right line to take when you wish to conceal your own mind and confuse the minds of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/frank-and-explicit-that-is-the-right-line-to-take-when-you-wish-to/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [I was told that the privileged and the people formed two nations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/i-was-told-that-the-privileged-and-the-people-formed-two-nations/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [The praise of a fool is incense to the wisest of us . . .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/the-praise-of-a-fool-is-incense-to-the-wisest-of-us/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Expediency is a law of nature. The camel is a wonderful animal, but the desert made the camel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/expediency-is-a-law-of-nature-the-camel-is-a-wonderful-animal-but-the/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Is man an ape or an angel? Now I am on the side of the angels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/is-man-an-ape-or-an-angel-now-i-am-on-the-side-of-the-angels/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Real politics are the possession and distribution of power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/real-politics-are-the-possession-and-distribution-of-power/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Desperation is sometimes as powerful an inspirer as genius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/desperation-is-sometimes-as-powerful-an-inspirer-as-genius/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Why, I say, that to tax the community for the advantage of a class is not protection; it is plunder, and I entirely disclaim…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/why-i-say-that-to-tax-the-community-for-the-advantage-of-a-class-is/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) [Explore all 603 Benjamin Disraeli quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) ## More Faces quotes > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [Because the truth is that gossip is as good as gospel in this town. You can save face but you won't ever save your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/because-the-truth-is-that-gossip-is-as-good-as-gospel-in-this-town/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [My friends, this body - perhaps more than any other gathering in human history - now faces that difficult task.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/my-friends-this-body-perhaps-more-than-any-other-gathering-in-human/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [His fingertips slid down from my face, lightly stroking the line of my neck, down toward my shoulder. Everywhere he touched, a trail of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/his-fingertips-slid-down-from-my-face-lightly-stroking-the-line-of-my/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [I've seen every one, from Motley Crue to John Denver, with tears running down my face. I had no idea everyone had such a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-nicks/i-ve-seen-every-one-from-motley-crue-to-john-denver-with-tears/) [Stevie Nicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-nicks/) > [So," I said. "Seems you're going to be stuck with me for a while." He smiled. A real smile that lit up his whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/so-i-said-seems-you-re-going-to-be-stuck-with-me-for-a-while-he/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [We have a fear of facing ourselves. That is the obstacle. Experiencing the innermost core of our existence is very embarrassing to a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/we-have-a-fear-of-facing-ourselves-that-is-the-obstacle-experiencing/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [ I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with \[my wife\] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with-my-wife-in-december-24-1999/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [If I had a million dollars, I just wouldn't just completely set back. I'd have to get out there and show my face to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muddy-waters/if-i-had-a-million-dollars-i-just-wouldn-t-just-completely-set-back-i/) [Muddy Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muddy-waters/) > [It is proposed that a form of free dialogue may well be one of the most effective ways of investigating the crisis which faces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bohm/it-is-proposed-that-a-form-of-free-dialogue-may-well-be-one-of-the/) [David Bohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bohm/) > [If enough money is involved and enough people believe that two plus two equals five the media will report the story with a straight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/if-enough-money-is-involved-and-enough-people-believe-that-two-plus/) [Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/) > [Here comes old Rosie she's looking mighty fine, here comes hot Nancy she's steppin' right on time. There go the street lights bringing on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-seger/here-comes-old-rosie-she-s-looking-mighty-fine-here-comes-hot-nancy/) [Bob Seger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-seger/) > [A face is too slight a foundation for happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wortley-montagu/a-face-is-too-slight-a-foundation-for-happiness/) [Mary Wortley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wortley-montagu/) > [ That's probably why my face was looking so crazy when I was crying \[in "Hardball"\] because it was some real. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/that-s-probably-why-my-face-was-looking-so-crazy-when-i-was-crying-in/) [Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/) > [Are we fighting?" I asked Morelli. "No. Were discussing." "Are you sure?" "Am I yelling?" Morelli asked. "Is my face purple? Are the cords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/are-we-fighting-i-asked-morelli-no-were-discussing-are-you-sure-am-i/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) [Browse all 13,128 Faces quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There are few faces that can afford to smile: a smile is sometimes bewitching, in general vapid, often a contortion.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Benjamin Disraeli" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/there-are-few-faces-that-can-afford-to-smile-a-smile-is-sometimes/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Faces" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/there-are-few-faces-that-can-afford-to-smile-a-smile-is-sometimes/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ca/benjamin-disraeli-390_faces_there-are-few-faces-that-can-afford-to-s_763126.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ca/benjamin-disraeli-390_faces_there-are-few-faces-that-can-afford-to-s_763126.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ca/benjamin-disraeli-390_faces_there-are-few-faces-that-can-afford-to-s_763126.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There are few faces that can afford to smile: a smile is sometimes bewitching, in general vapid, often a…” — Benjamin Disraeli", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Benjamin Disraeli", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There are few faces that can...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/there-are-few-faces-that-can-afford-to-smile-a-smile-is-sometimes/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/there-are-few-faces-that-can-afford-to-smile-a-smile-is-sometimes/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```