--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our masks, always in peril of smearing or…" description: "\"Our masks, always in peril of smearing or cracking, in need of continuous check in the mirror or silverware, keep us in thrall to ourselves, concerned ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/893/carolyn-kizer-31047_checks_our-masks-always-in-peril-of-smearing-or_1216937.png" --- # Our masks, always in peril of smearing or cracking, in… ![“Our masks, always in peril of smearing or cracking, in need of continuous check in the mirror or silverware, keep us in thrall to ourselves, concerned with our surfaces.” quote by Carolyn Kizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/893/carolyn-kizer-31047_checks_our-masks-always-in-peril-of-smearing-or_1216937.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/893/carolyn-kizer-31047_checks_our-masks-always-in-peril-of-smearing-or_1216937.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/893/carolyn-kizer-31047_checks_our-masks-always-in-peril-of-smearing-or_1216937.png) > “Our masks, always in peril of smearing or cracking, in need of continuous check in the mirror or silverware, keep us in thrall to ourselves, concerned with our surfaces.” [Carolyn Kizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-kizer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We constantly monitor our outward image, fearing flaws, which traps us in self‑obsession. **In simple terms:** Obsessing over appearance limits authenticity. Key Takeaway Practice self‑acceptance. Themes self‑image vulnerability authenticity Mood thoughtful introspective Type poetry philosophical When to use this quote - social media - personal relationships - public speaking Key Concepts philosophy psychology Questions to Reflect On - What aspects of yourself are hidden behind masks? - How can you balance self‑care with authenticity? A Different Perspective Focus on appearance can protect social standing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Mask](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mask/) [Masks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/masks/) [Mirrors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mirrors/) [Peril](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peril/) ## Related quotes > [“Our masks, always in peril of smearing or cracking, In need of continuous check in the mirror or silverware, Keep us in thrall to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-kizer/our-masks-always-in-peril-of-smearing-or-cracking-in-need-of-2/) [Carolyn Kizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-kizer/) > [Everywhere else, we are someone else, but at home, we remove our masks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-desmond/everywhere-else-we-are-someone-else-but-at-home-we-remove-our-masks/) [Matthew Desmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-desmond/) > [I went through a phase of buying a lot of masks, as anyone who has been to a party at the house will testify.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-nutini/i-went-through-a-phase-of-buying-a-lot-of-masks-as-anyone-who-has/) [Paolo Nutini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-nutini/) > [I'm betting between the two of them, they've probably broken a ton of face masks. Their own and those of a bunch of defensive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-bettis/i-m-betting-between-the-two-of-them-they-ve-probably-broken-a-ton-of/) [Jerome Bettis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-bettis/) > [They look so expectant, and then they look so depressed... that was the other great lesson that The Royal Hunt of the Sun taught…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-shaffer/they-look-so-expectant-and-then-they-look-so-depressed-that-was-the/) [Peter Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-shaffer/) > [I like the masks; because the real face of the mask is again itself!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/i-like-the-masks-because-the-real-face-of-the-mask-is-again-itself/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I love sheet masks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandi-cyrus/i-love-sheet-masks/) [Brandi Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandi-cyrus/) > [Straw and the Ghost when it goes down, vest and a fo'-pound. We don't give a fuck about the law when we blast off.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-block/straw-and-the-ghost-when-it-goes-down-vest-and-a-fo-pound-we-don-t/) D Block > [The New York Times published the guest list on the front page. The masks were a brilliant concept.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-plimpton/the-new-york-times-published-the-guest-list-on-the-front-page-the/) [George Plimpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-plimpton/) > [“Modern man has too many masks to wear. We must unmask and be ourselves, sincerely, earnestly and live truly as we are,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gyomay-m-kubose/modern-man-has-too-many-masks-to-wear-we-must-unmask-and-be-ourselves/) [Gyomay M. Kubose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gyomay-m-kubose/) > [Curiosity is one of the many masks of love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/curiosity-is-one-of-the-many-masks-of-love/) [Gabriel Garcia Marquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/) > [My sole goal in life is to look like a foetus, well not the sole one, but it's up there. I spend quite a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-scanlon/my-sole-goal-in-life-is-to-look-like-a-foetus-well-not-the-sole-one/) [Angela Scanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-scanlon/) > [Women have been charged with deviousness and duplicity since the dawn of civilization so they have never been able to pretend that their masks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germaine-greer/women-have-been-charged-with-deviousness-and-duplicity-since-the-dawn/) [Germaine Greer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germaine-greer/) > [“Deadpool: These masks, you know, they hide more than faces, Bank. They hide feelings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-van-lente/deadpool-these-masks-you-know-they-hide-more-than-faces-bank-they/) [Fred Van Lente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-van-lente/) > [“I hid my wound under my clothes. Nobody could see it, including myself, and I completely forgot about it. Then I met someone who,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franco-santoro/i-hid-my-wound-under-my-clothes-nobody-could-see-it-including-myself/) [Franco Santoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franco-santoro/) ## More by Carolyn Kizer > [Poems, to me, do not come from ideas, they come from a series of images that you tuck away in the back of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-kizer/poems-to-me-do-not-come-from-ideas-they-come-from-a-series-of-images/) [Carolyn Kizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-kizer/) > [She tended to be impatient with that sort of intellectual who, for all his brilliance, has never been able to arrive at the simple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-kizer/she-tended-to-be-impatient-with-that-sort-of-intellectual-who-for-all/) [Carolyn Kizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-kizer/) > [You cannot meet someone for a moment, or even cast eyes on someone in the street, without changing. That is my subject.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-kizer/you-cannot-meet-someone-for-a-moment-or-even-cast-eyes-on-someone-in/) [Carolyn Kizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-kizer/) > [I happen to believe that there are a lot of good poets around at present, but a poet like Alex Kuo, who possesses a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-kizer/i-happen-to-believe-that-there-are-a-lot-of-good-poets-around-at/) [Carolyn Kizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-kizer/) > [“Food of Love Eating is touch carried to the bitter end. -Samuel Butler II I'm going to murder you with love; I'm going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-kizer/food-of-love-eating-is-touch-carried-to-the-bitter-end-samuel-butler/) [Carolyn Kizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-kizer/) > [What is so marvelous about living today is that it is possible to extend, like a flower, spreading petals in all directions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-kizer/what-is-so-marvelous-about-living-today-is-that-it-is-possible-to/) [Carolyn Kizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-kizer/) > [A poet, to whom no one cruel or imposing listens, Disdained by senates, whispers to your dust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-kizer/a-poet-to-whom-no-one-cruel-or-imposing-listens-disdained-by-senates/) [Carolyn Kizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-kizer/) > [“from "Semele Recycled" But then your great voice rang out under the skies my name!-- and all those private names for the parts and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-kizer/from-semele-recycled-but-then-your-great-voice-rang-out-under-the/) [Carolyn Kizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-kizer/) > [In some ways painters have been more important in my life than writers. Painters teach you how to see—a faculty that usually isn’t highly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-kizer/in-some-ways-painters-have-been-more-important-in-my-life-than/) [Carolyn Kizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-kizer/) > [“Poets are interested primarily in death and commas. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-kizer/poets-are-interested-primarily-in-death-and-commas/) [Carolyn Kizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-kizer/) > [A poet, to whom no one cruel and imposing listens, / Disdained by senates, whispers to your dust,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-kizer/a-poet-to-whom-no-one-cruel-and-imposing-listens-disdained-by-senates/) [Carolyn Kizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-kizer/) > [Poets are interested mostly in death and commas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-kizer/poets-are-interested-mostly-in-death-and-commas/) [Carolyn Kizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-kizer/) > [He said, "You have pigs in this poem; pigs are not poetic." I got up and walked out of that class and never went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-kizer/he-said-you-have-pigs-in-this-poem-pigs-are-not-poetic-i-got-up-and/) [Carolyn Kizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-kizer/) > [We live in wonder, blaze in a cycle of passion and apprehension.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-kizer/we-live-in-wonder-blaze-in-a-cycle-of-passion-and-apprehension/) [Carolyn Kizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-kizer/) > [You write for the people in high school who ignored you. We all do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-kizer/you-write-for-the-people-in-high-school-who-ignored-you-we-all-do/) [Carolyn Kizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-kizer/) [Explore all 17 Carolyn Kizer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-kizer/) ## More Checks quotes > [Check out the albums, ... Check out the live performances. That's the reality of it all. Music is such an energizing thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mayall/check-out-the-albums-check-out-the-live-performances-that-s-the/) [John Mayall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mayall/) > [ When the fountains of government \[borrowing\] abundance began to dry up, when through lack of funds and the impossibility of negotiating fresh loans the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-t-flynn/when-the-fountains-of-government-borrowing-abundance-began-to-dry-up/) [John T. Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-t-flynn/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [I gave birth to most of them MC's... So when it comes around to the month of May, Send me your royalty check for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roxanne-shante/i-gave-birth-to-most-of-them-mc-s-so-when-it-comes-around-to-the/) Roxanne Shante > [I pay these niggas with a reality check…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/i-pay-these-niggas-with-a-reality-check/) [Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/) > [Two things you need to know about taxes. They've extended the deadline to April 18, and when you write your check, just make it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/two-things-you-need-to-know-about-taxes-they-ve-extended-the-deadline/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [The first thing you ought to do is verify what I present. Just because I say it doesn't make it true. So check it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-first-thing-you-ought-to-do-is-verify-what-i-present-just-because/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [It's a constant man-ego-check going on in the streets, in this world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/it-s-a-constant-man-ego-check-going-on-in-the-streets-in-this-world/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [Well, a lot of our concerts do okay, and I know we still get royalty checks which still isn't that important, but again, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-johnston/well-a-lot-of-our-concerts-do-okay-and-i-know-we-still-get-royalty/) [Bruce Johnston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-johnston/) > [The things of the world are ever rising and falling, and in perpetual change; and this change must be according to the will of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-von-humboldt/the-things-of-the-world-are-ever-rising-and-falling-and-in-perpetual/) [Wilhelm von Humboldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-von-humboldt/) > [If you find your feet dragging, check your path. You are probably on the wrong one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-toshio-sudo/if-you-find-your-feet-dragging-check-your-path-you-are-probably-on/) [Philip Toshio Sudo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-toshio-sudo/) > [The American people reject the idea of giving Washington a blank check to increase the debt limit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-roby/the-american-people-reject-the-idea-of-giving-washington-a-blank/) [Martha Roby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-roby/) > [I'm a little bit superstitious, and I think that just comes from playing hockey. I won't avoid the number thirteen. A big one for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-badge-dale/i-m-a-little-bit-superstitious-and-i-think-that-just-comes-from/) [James Badge Dale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-badge-dale/) > [A lot of independent films offer a harsh reality check.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrey-plaza/a-lot-of-independent-films-offer-a-harsh-reality-check/) [Aubrey Plaza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrey-plaza/) > [Seeds have the power to preserve species, to enhance cultural as well as genetic diversity, to counter economic monopoly and to check the advance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/seeds-have-the-power-to-preserve-species-to-enhance-cultural-as-well/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) Browse all 1,697 Checks quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Our masks, always in peril of smearing or cracking, in need of continuous check in the mirror or silverware, keep us in thrall to ourselves, concerned with our surfaces.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Carolyn Kizer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-kizer/our-masks-always-in-peril-of-smearing-or-cracking-in-need-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Checks" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-kizer/our-masks-always-in-peril-of-smearing-or-cracking-in-need-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/893/carolyn-kizer-31047_checks_our-masks-always-in-peril-of-smearing-or_1216937.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/893/carolyn-kizer-31047_checks_our-masks-always-in-peril-of-smearing-or_1216937.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/893/carolyn-kizer-31047_checks_our-masks-always-in-peril-of-smearing-or_1216937.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Our masks, always in peril of smearing or cracking, in need of continuous check in the mirror or silverware…” — Carolyn Kizer", "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": "Carolyn Kizer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-kizer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Our masks, always in peril of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-kizer/our-masks-always-in-peril-of-smearing-or-cracking-in-need-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-kizer/our-masks-always-in-peril-of-smearing-or-cracking-in-need-of/#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 } } ] } ```