--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Why was \"plain\" a euphemism for \"ugly,\"…" description: "\"“Why was \"plain\" a euphemism for \"ugly,\" when the very hallmark of human beauty was its plainness, the symmetry and simplicity that always seemed so yo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f36/elif-batuman-2172_beauty_why-was-plain-a-euphemism-for-ugly-when_2824978.png" --- # Why was "plain" a euphemism for "ugly," when the very… ![“Why was "plain" a euphemism for "ugly," when the very hallmark of human beauty was its plainness, the symmetry and simplicity that always seemed so young and so innocent. It was impossible not to think that here beauty was one of the most important things about her - something having to do with…” quote by Elif Batuman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f36/elif-batuman-2172_beauty_why-was-plain-a-euphemism-for-ugly-when_2824978.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f36/elif-batuman-2172_beauty_why-was-plain-a-euphemism-for-ugly-when_2824978.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f36/elif-batuman-2172_beauty_why-was-plain-a-euphemism-for-ugly-when_2824978.png) > ““Why was "plain" a euphemism for "ugly," when the very hallmark of human beauty was its plainness, the symmetry and simplicity that always seemed so young and so innocent. It was impossible not to think that here beauty was one of the most important things about her - something having to do with who she really was.”” [Elif Batuman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elif-batuman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Highlights beauty in simplicity and innocence, contrasting it with harsh labels. **In simple terms:** Plainness can be beautiful and pure. Key Takeaway Appreciate simplicity as a form of beauty. Themes beauty simplicity innocence Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - fashion critique - art analysis - personal self‑image Key Concepts aesthetic philosophy human nature Questions to Reflect On - How does society label simplicity? - Can simplicity be both beautiful and limiting? A Different Perspective Focusing solely on simplicity may overlook depth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beauty/) [Beauty Plainness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beauty-plainness-3617206/) [Important things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-things/) [Plain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plain/) [Plain Euphemism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plain-euphemism-3617207/) [Plainness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plainness/) [Plainness Symmetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plainness-symmetry-3617208/) ## Related quotes > [“Simple is pretty because it is plain; simple is effective because it gives an understandable clear message; simple is genius because it gains our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/simple-is-pretty-because-it-is-plain-simple-is-effective-because-it/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [People have many theories about comedy, but being just plain funny is the one most important thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-gottfried/people-have-many-theories-about-comedy-but-being-just-plain-funny-is/) [Gilbert Gottfried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-gottfried/) > [Above all you must illumine your own soul with its profundities and its shallows, and its vanities and its generosities, and say what your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/above-all-you-must-illumine-your-own-soul-with-its-profundities-and/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [My life is simple, my food is plain, and my quarters are uncluttered. In all things, I have sought clarity. I face the troubles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yi-sun-sin/my-life-is-simple-my-food-is-plain-and-my-quarters-are-uncluttered-in/) [Yi Sun-sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yi-sun-sin/) > [“Plainness was not necessarily simplicity,” Frank Lloyd Wright cautioned. “Elimination, therefore, may be just as meaningless as elaboration, perhaps more often is so. To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/plainness-was-not-necessarily-simplicity-frank-lloyd-wright-cautioned/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [The approach to style is by way of plainness, simplicity, orderliness, sincerity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-strunk-jr/the-approach-to-style-is-by-way-of-plainness-simplicity-orderliness/) [William Strunk, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-strunk-jr/) > [Plainness has its peculiar temptations and vices quite as much as beauty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/plainness-has-its-peculiar-temptations-and-vices-quite-as-much-as/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [She that would raise a noble love must find Ways to beget a passion for her mind; She must be that which she to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-villiers/she-that-would-raise-a-noble-love-must-find-ways-to-beget-a-passion/) [Theresa Villiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theresa-villiers/) > [Errors and exaggerations do not matter. What matters is boldness in thinking with a strong-pitched voice, in speaking out about things as one feels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-clemente-orozco/errors-and-exaggerations-do-not-matter-what-matters-is-boldness-in/) [Jose Clemente Orozco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-clemente-orozco/) > [Modest plainness sets off sprightly wit, For works may have more with than does 'em good, As bodies perish through excess of blood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/modest-plainness-sets-off-sprightly-wit-for-works-may-have-more-with/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Who has not experienced how, on near acquaintance, plainness becomes beautified, and beauty loses its charm, exactly according to the quality of the heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fredrika-bremer/who-has-not-experienced-how-on-near-acquaintance-plainness-becomes/) [Fredrika Bremer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fredrika-bremer/) > [The very essence of truth is plainness and brightness; the darkness and crookedness is our own. The wisdom of God created understanding, fit and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/the-very-essence-of-truth-is-plainness-and-brightness-the-darkness/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [people who pay greater respect to a wealthy villain than to an honest, upright man in poverty, almost deserve to be enslaved; they plainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hancock/people-who-pay-greater-respect-to-a-wealthy-villain-than-to-an-honest/) [John Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hancock/) > [He will find one English book and one only, where, as in the "Iliad" itself, perfect plainness of speech is allied with perfect nobleness;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-arnold/he-will-find-one-english-book-and-one-only-where-as-in-the-iliad/) [Matthew Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-arnold/) > [Trust a girl of sixteen for knowing well if she is pretty; concerning her plainness she may be ignorant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/trust-a-girl-of-sixteen-for-knowing-well-if-she-is-pretty-concerning/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) ## More by Elif Batuman > [My parents were born into a secular country. They met in Turkey's top medical school, moved to America in the nineteen-seventies, and became researchers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elif-batuman/my-parents-were-born-into-a-secular-country-they-met-in-turkey-s-top/) [Elif Batuman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elif-batuman/) > [“I leafed through the phrase book. If a Martian read it, the Martian would probably decide to avoid Hungary.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elif-batuman/i-leafed-through-the-phrase-book-if-a-martian-read-it-the-martian/) [Elif Batuman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elif-batuman/) > [You can't invent something you have no epistemological access to. 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All my favorite writers are writers I consider to be funny, including Tolstoy and Dostoevsky, even though that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elif-batuman/humor-is-really-important-to-me-all-my-favorite-writers-are-writers-i/) [Elif Batuman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elif-batuman/) > [Every time a meteor comes close to the earth, we all think about the end of the world - but our internal soundtrack doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elif-batuman/every-time-a-meteor-comes-close-to-the-earth-we-all-think-about-the/) [Elif Batuman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elif-batuman/) > [I felt grateful to Ataturk that my parents were so well educated, that they weren't held back by superstition or religion, that they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elif-batuman/i-felt-grateful-to-ataturk-that-my-parents-were-so-well-educated-that/) [Elif Batuman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elif-batuman/) > [“For a moment it felt like we weren’t in the Danube at all but in the river of time, and everyone was at a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elif-batuman/for-a-moment-it-felt-like-we-weren-t-in-the-danube-at-all-but-in-the/) [Elif Batuman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elif-batuman/) [Explore all 182 Elif Batuman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elif-batuman/) ## More Beauty quotes > [We do not want nowadays temples of worship and outward rites and ceremonies. 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When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie/to-me-the-beauty-of-a-quilt-or-a-dress-lies-within-the-stitches-and/) [Natalie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie/) > [“do not misunderstand person by beauty You really do not know its real or Mask on dirty thoughts”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-zaki-ansari/do-not-misunderstand-person-by-beauty-you-really-do-not-know-its-real/) [Mohammed Zaki Ansari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-zaki-ansari/) > [“I already love in you your beauty, but I am only beginning to love in you that which is eternal and ever precious –…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/i-already-love-in-you-your-beauty-but-i-am-only-beginning-to-love-in/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [The more perfect the sight is the more delightful the beautiful object. The more perfect the appetite, the sweeter the food. 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