--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is no accident that the man who…" description: "\"“It is no accident that the man who famously observed that power is the greatest aphrodisiac was not, by a long shot, good looking. Often (in what we m..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c5/christopher-ryan-4309_attractiveness_it-is-no-accident-that-the-man-who-famou_2601238.jpg" --- # It is no accident that the man who famously observed that… ![“It is no accident that the man who famously observed that power is the greatest aphrodisiac was not, by a long shot, good looking. Often (in what we might call the Kissinger effect), the men with the greatest access to resources and status lack the genetic wealth signified by physical…” quote by Christopher Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c5/christopher-ryan-4309_attractiveness_it-is-no-accident-that-the-man-who-famou_2601238.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c5/christopher-ryan-4309_attractiveness_it-is-no-accident-that-the-man-who-famou_2601238.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c5/christopher-ryan-4309_attractiveness_it-is-no-accident-that-the-man-who-famou_2601238.jpg) > ““It is no accident that the man who famously observed that power is the greatest aphrodisiac was not, by a long shot, good looking. Often (in what we might call the Kissinger effect), the men with the greatest access to resources and status lack the genetic wealth signified by physical attractiveness.”” [Christopher Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-ryan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Power attracts resources but often lacks physical attractiveness, creating a paradox where influence does not guarantee conventional appeal. **In simple terms:** Power and attractiveness often don’t align. Key Takeaway Recognize that influence and looks are separate assets. Themes power attractiveness paradox social dynamics Mood irical analytical Type sociological observational When to use this quote - political leadership - corporate hierarchy - dating - media representation - celebrity culture Key Concepts resource allocation genetics status perception Questions to Reflect On - How does society value appearance versus influence? - Can power compensate for lack of conventional looks? A Different Perspective Physical attractiveness can still affect outcomes despite power. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attractiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attractiveness/) [Long Shot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-shot/) ## Related quotes > [I'm not exactly Don Draper when it comes to physical attractiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gethard/i-m-not-exactly-don-draper-when-it-comes-to-physical-attractiveness/) [Chris Gethard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gethard/) > [“Physical attractiveness is no indicator of an individual's beauty." from "The Beauty of Ugh”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/physical-attractiveness-is-no-indicator-of-an-individual-s-beauty/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“In the sciences, looking good was usually a negative. It implied you wasted time on outdoor activities instead of building something useful. Even using…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-barry/in-the-sciences-looking-good-was-usually-a-negative-it-implied-you/) [Max Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-barry/) > [Any relationship primarily built on physical attractiveness is predestined to be short lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/any-relationship-primarily-built-on-physical-attractiveness-is/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [“A sure sign of maturity in a young man is his recognition that beauty in a young woman does not presume physical attractiveness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-beaton/a-sure-sign-of-maturity-in-a-young-man-is-his-recognition-that-beauty/) Joe Beaton > [“Within his temples felt thoughts not of woman's looks, but of stellar aspects and the configuration of constellations. 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And he was pretentious: Sweet Jesus Christ, that kid never took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/augustus-waters-talked-so-much-that-he-d-interrupt-you-at-his-own/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Being in love has a very bad effect on men - it seems to addle their wits.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/being-in-love-has-a-very-bad-effect-on-men-it-seems-to-addle-their/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [“She recognized the signs of danger. When she’d said to the duke that she had a certain effect on men, she hadn’t been exaggerating.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-thomas/she-recognized-the-signs-of-danger-when-she-d-said-to-the-duke-that/) [Sherry Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-thomas/) > [“At heart most men are as terrified of women's infinite sexualcapacity as they are fascinated by it. 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It "converts a good man in private life to a tyrant in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-bailyn/power-always-and-everywhere-had-had-a-pernicious-corrupting-effect/) [Bernard Bailyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-bailyn/) > [I don't know what effect these men will have upon the enemy, but by God, they frighten me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-know-what-effect-these-men-will-have-upon-the-enemy-but-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Great and strange ideas transcending experience often have less effect upon men and women than smaller, more tangible considerations.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-g-wells-2/great-and-strange-ideas-transcending-experience-often-have-less/) [H.G. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-g-wells-2/) ## More by Christopher Ryan > [“Marriage," "mating," and "love" are socially constructed phenomena that have little or no transferable meaning outside any given culture. The examples we've noted of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-ryan/marriage-mating-and-love-are-socially-constructed-phenomena-that-have/) [Christopher Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-ryan/) > [“What constitutes misuse of the universe? This question can be answered in one word: greed…. Greed constitutes the most grievous wrong. LAURENTI MAGESA, African…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-ryan/what-constitutes-misuse-of-the-universe-this-question-can-be-answered/) [Christopher Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-ryan/) > [“human population growth mushroomed as quality of life plummeted. 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Where the females save it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-ryan/if-a-species-has-cojones-grandes-you-can-bet-that-males-have-frequent/) [Christopher Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-ryan/) [Explore all 113 Christopher Ryan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-ryan/) ## More Attractiveness quotes > [“Once you tell a man he's pretty, there's no taking it back. 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