Humor Quote by Edwin Hubbel Chapin
“Do not judge from mere appearances; for the lift laughter that bubbles on the lip often mantles over the depths of sadness, and the serious look may be the sober veil that covers a divine peace and joy. The bosom can ache beneath diamond brooches; and many a blithe heart dances under coarse wool.”
About This Quote
Source Poem: "The Mask of Joy", 1883
Appearances can hide deep sorrow; smiles may conceal sadness, and solemn faces may veil inner peace.
In simple terms: Smiles can hide sadness; serious looks may hide joy.
Key Takeaway
Look beyond surface emotions.
Themes
perception
emotion
appearance
Mood
thoughtful
empathetic
Type
poetic
observational
When to use this quote
- relationships
- social interactions
- self-awareness
Key Concepts
psychology
human nature
Questions to Reflect On
- What signals reveal true feelings behind a smile?
- How do you interpret serious expressions?
A Different Perspective
People may also hide joy behind seriousness.
![“There's an elegiac quality in watching [American wilderness] go, because it's our own myth, the American frontier, that's deteriorating before our eyes. I feel a deep sorrow that my kids will never get to see what I've seen, and their kids will see nothing; there's a deep sadness whenever I look…” quote by Peter Matthiessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/86b/peter-matthiessen-5795_deep-sadness_there-s-an-elegiac-quality-in-watching-a_1276424.jpg)
![“I often feel happier, after putting down some of my own experiences [in my journal], than I do in reading much. Novels, even if they are good, pass out of my memory very rapidly. I enjoy it as I should a scene at the theatre; but am not essentially benefited by the incidents or morals. What more…” quote by Abigail May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ae3/abigail-may-alcott-91127_books_i-often-feel-happier-after-putting-down_96733.jpg)
![“[S]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once, for example, when I was just starting out in the food business, I was hired by the caper people to develop a lot of recipes using capers, and it was weeks of…” quote by Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d79/nora-ephron-1217_business_s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-th_980.jpg)
