--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A smile flickered over his lips, but…" description: "\"“A smile flickered over his lips, but found no purchase”\" — Cecilia Grant" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a41/cecilia-grant-29986_smile_a-smile-flickered-over-his-lips-but-foun_2290227.jpg" --- # A smile flickered over his lips, but found no purchase ![“A smile flickered over his lips, but found no purchase” quote by Cecilia Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a41/cecilia-grant-29986_smile_a-smile-flickered-over-his-lips-but-foun_2290227.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a41/cecilia-grant-29986_smile_a-smile-flickered-over-his-lips-but-foun_2290227.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a41/cecilia-grant-29986_smile_a-smile-flickered-over-his-lips-but-foun_2290227.jpg) > ““A smile flickered over his lips, but found no purchase”” [Cecilia Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecilia-grant/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A smile appears but fails to bring comfort, suggesting inner emptiness despite outward expression. **In simple terms:** A smile can mask inner emptiness. Key Takeaway Recognize when outward joy hides inner pain. Themes emotion appearance inner conflict Mood melancholic thoughtful poetic Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - social interactions - personal introspection - mental health Key Concepts masking disconnection unfulfilled desire Questions to Reflect On - When have you smiled without feeling joy? - What does “purchase” symbolize for you? A Different Perspective The phrase may be ambiguous without context. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Smile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smile/) ## Related quotes > [The ghost of a smile flickered across his lips. ‘You’re always the voice of reason. Just try listening to yourself once in a while.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/the-ghost-of-a-smile-flickered-across-his-lips-you-re-always-the/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [“Edmund felt despair eating away at his victory. "Why is the world like this?" He shivered. "Why does it feel so cold, so hard?"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-jobin/edmund-felt-despair-eating-away-at-his-victory-why-is-the-world-like/) Matthew Jobin > [A ghostly smile flickered across his face. "If you weren't so psychotic, you'd be fun to hang around." "Funny, I feel that way about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/a-ghostly-smile-flickered-across-his-face-if-you-weren-t-so-psychotic/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [“I should go," I said thickly. "Let me know when you want to start practice again. And thanks for...talking." I started to turn; then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/i-should-go-i-said-thickly-let-me-know-when-you-want-to-start/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [“As she was being pulled away, she caught one last glimpse of Barnaby. As if he sensed her location, he looked up and their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-o-brien/as-she-was-being-pulled-away-she-caught-one-last-glimpse-of-barnaby/) Judith O'Brien > [Sometimes I can't tell if I just blinked or the lights flickered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-i-can-t-tell-if-i-just-blinked-or-the-lights-flickered/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“And the light by which she had been reading the book of life, blazed up suddenly, illuminating those pages that had been dark, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/and-the-light-by-which-she-had-been-reading-the-book-of-life-blazed/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Movies used to be called the 'flicks' because they flickered badly: because 16 or 18 frames a second - which was those hand cranked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-trumbull/movies-used-to-be-called-the-flicks-because-they-flickered-badly/) [Douglas Trumbull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-trumbull/) > [“Laser light flickered all over him as if he was a packet of biscuits at a super-market check-out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/laser-light-flickered-all-over-him-as-if-he-was-a-packet-of-biscuits/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“...we could see the parapet of Ryougoku Bridge, arching above the waves that flickered in the faint mid-autumn twilight and against the sky, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ry-nosuke-akutagawa/we-could-see-the-parapet-of-ryougoku-bridge-arching-above-the-waves/) [Ryunosuke Akutagawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ry-nosuke-akutagawa/) > [What little light was left inside me flickered out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/what-little-light-was-left-inside-me-flickered-out/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) > [“The walls flickered in the candlelight. The room felt close and warm, like an underground sanctuary.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-eisler/the-walls-flickered-in-the-candlelight-the-room-felt-close-and-warm/) [Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/) > [“Her laughter began low and quiet then rose in pitch and flickered all over the room, like blood splatter.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-b-cooney/her-laughter-began-low-and-quiet-then-rose-in-pitch-and-flickered-all/) [Caroline B. Cooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-b-cooney/) > [“I was in the process of zooming in when the screen on the GPS flickered to black. I tapped it on the side, as”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-martin/i-was-in-the-process-of-zooming-in-when-the-screen-on-the-gps/) [Charles Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-martin/) > [“A neon-pink 3 flickered and instantly disappeared again into the dark. The sight of it on my own device now made me sick. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-sudjic/a-neon-pink-3-flickered-and-instantly-disappeared-again-into-the-dark/) [Olivia Sudjic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-sudjic/) ## More by Cecilia Grant > [“My actions dishonored us both.” -Will “It’s not in your power to dishonor me.” -Lydia”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecilia-grant/my-actions-dishonored-us-both-will-it-s-not-in-your-power-to-dishonor/) [Cecilia Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecilia-grant/) > [“How could he claim to love her, when he did not love what was essential in her?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecilia-grant/how-could-he-claim-to-love-her-when-he-did-not-love-what-was/) [Cecilia Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecilia-grant/) > [“Some men there were who know how to look at a lady, and make her feel she'd been seen. Or perhaps there was no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecilia-grant/some-men-there-were-who-know-how-to-look-at-a-lady-and-make-her-feel/) [Cecilia Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecilia-grant/) > [“Don’t dare fancy you’ll be the man to teach me the pleasures of tenderness.” Tenderness was a rat whose neck she wrung with her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecilia-grant/don-t-dare-fancy-you-ll-be-the-man-to-teach-me-the-pleasures-of/) [Cecilia Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecilia-grant/) > [“Love makes us all do unaccountable things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecilia-grant/love-makes-us-all-do-unaccountable-things/) [Cecilia Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecilia-grant/) > [“With all the insolence she swallowed, it was a wonder her corsets still laced. Retort after rejoinder after sharp-edged remark: Why do you address…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecilia-grant/with-all-the-insolence-she-swallowed-it-was-a-wonder-her-corsets/) [Cecilia Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecilia-grant/) > [“He shook his head, the corner of his mouth ticking up. “My way this time, remember? No ordering me about. I place an embargo…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecilia-grant/he-shook-his-head-the-corner-of-his-mouth-ticking-up-my-way-this-time/) [Cecilia Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecilia-grant/) > [“Wicked, to be sure.” He repeated the word as though tasting it, his gaze now following her finger's progress. “Perhaps you'd better punish me.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecilia-grant/wicked-to-be-sure-he-repeated-the-word-as-though-tasting-it-his-gaze/) [Cecilia Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecilia-grant/) > [“I love you for your quickness and your brokenness and your sharp edges too.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecilia-grant/i-love-you-for-your-quickness-and-your-brokenness-and-your-sharp/) [Cecilia Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecilia-grant/) > [“Don’t you find that a terribly romantic idea? Love stealing in to overtake two people who’d believe they were merely friends?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecilia-grant/don-t-you-find-that-a-terribly-romantic-idea-love-stealing-in-to/) [Cecilia Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecilia-grant/) > [“Even two people who are no more than friends by daylight can fell prey to the influence of a secret dark room.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecilia-grant/even-two-people-who-are-no-more-than-friends-by-daylight-can-fell/) [Cecilia Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecilia-grant/) > [“I've never asked you to give the least considerations to my feelings." He could picture her holding the word with fingertips at arm's length,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecilia-grant/i-ve-never-asked-you-to-give-the-least-considerations-to-my-feelings/) [Cecilia Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecilia-grant/) > [“A lock of her hair escaped its pin and rode out on the wind, one more insubordinate part of her reaching for him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecilia-grant/a-lock-of-her-hair-escaped-its-pin-and-rode-out-on-the-wind-one-more/) [Cecilia Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecilia-grant/) > [“Have you learned nothing from Kitty of how a married sister ought to behave? You must invite young ladies of your own choosing, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecilia-grant/have-you-learned-nothing-from-kitty-of-how-a-married-sister-ought-to/) [Cecilia Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecilia-grant/) > [“A sodden leaf pinwheeled into the coachman’s face and stuck there. He let it remain, as though to make a show of his fitness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecilia-grant/a-sodden-leaf-pinwheeled-into-the-coachman-s-face-and-stuck-there-he/) [Cecilia Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecilia-grant/) [Explore all 18 Cecilia Grant quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecilia-grant/) ## More Smile quotes > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [People often take me wrong I didn't feel bad I just smile beause onely god knows what is in person heart :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/musfirah/people-often-take-me-wrong-i-didn-t-feel-bad-i-just-smile-beause/) [Musfirah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/musfirah/) > [You smile upon your friend to-day, To-day his ills are over; You hearken to the lover's say, And happy is the lover. 'Tis late…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-smile-upon-your-friend-to-day-to-day-his-ills-are-over-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I've got nothing to do today but smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ve-got-nothing-to-do-today-but-smile/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I love the way you smile at me... knocks me on my arse.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-harmon/i-love-the-way-you-smile-at-me-knocks-me-on-my-arse/) [Amy Harmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-harmon/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [A real boyfriend can see the pain behind a girls smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patience/a-real-boyfriend-can-see-the-pain-behind-a-girls-smile/) Patience > [I'm happy. I'm always with a smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gael-monfils/i-m-happy-i-m-always-with-a-smile/) [Gael Monfils](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gael-monfils/) > [Smile and show him that life is still going on and is happier without him..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhumika/smile-and-show-him-that-life-is-still-going-on-and-is-happier-without/) [Bhumika](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhumika/) > [Im not as strong as I wanna be and I'm not as brave as you. But what ive been through is enough to break…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-not-as-strong-as-i-wanna-be-and-i-m-not-as-brave-as-you-but-what/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Always keep the smile, because the smile is the beginning of love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-imad/always-keep-the-smile-because-the-smile-is-the-beginning-of-love/) Adam Imad > [Wherever I go I'm always wearing my smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewshy/wherever-i-go-i-m-always-wearing-my-smile/) Ewshy > [Nothing costs as little and is worth as much as a smile. Relax, let yourself smile, and see the light come back to you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/nothing-costs-as-little-and-is-worth-as-much-as-a-smile-relax-let/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Stay strong, make them wonder how youre still smiling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/superman/stay-strong-make-them-wonder-how-youre-still-smiling/) Superman > [You'll know they're special when no matter what kind of mood you're in, they can always manage to make you smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-tomasello/you-ll-know-they-re-special-when-no-matter-what-kind-of-mood-you-re/) [Mario Tomasello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-tomasello/) [Browse all 7,605 Smile quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smile/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“A smile flickered over his lips, but found no purchase”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Cecilia Grant" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecilia-grant/a-smile-flickered-over-his-lips-but-found-no-purchase/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Smile" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecilia-grant/a-smile-flickered-over-his-lips-but-found-no-purchase/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a41/cecilia-grant-29986_smile_a-smile-flickered-over-his-lips-but-foun_2290227.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a41/cecilia-grant-29986_smile_a-smile-flickered-over-his-lips-but-foun_2290227.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a41/cecilia-grant-29986_smile_a-smile-flickered-over-his-lips-but-foun_2290227.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A smile flickered over his lips, but found no purchase” — Cecilia Grant", "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": "Cecilia Grant", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecilia-grant/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“A smile flickered over his lips,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecilia-grant/a-smile-flickered-over-his-lips-but-found-no-purchase/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecilia-grant/a-smile-flickered-over-his-lips-but-found-no-purchase/#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 } } ] } ```