Horse show Quote by Ernest Hemingway
““watched Lewis carefully without seeming to look at him, as you do when you are boxing, and I do not think I had ever seen a nastier-looking man. Some people show evil as a great race horse shows breeding. They have the dignity of a hard chancre. Lewis did not show evil; he just looked nasty.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Sun Also Rises, Ernest Hemingway, 1926
The narrator observes a man whose appearance radiates malice, comparing it to a horse’s breeding or a disease’s dignity, suggesting evil can be a surface trait.
In simple terms: Looks can betray inner nastiness.
Key Takeaway
Beware of judging solely by appearance.
Themes
perception
evil
appearance
judgment
Mood
cautious
reflective
Type
social
psychological
When to use this quote
- meeting a new colleague
- first impressions in dating
- assessing a competitor’s demeanor
Key Concepts
aesthetic judgment
psychological projection
Questions to Reflect On
- What assumptions do you make from first looks?
- Can a harsh exterior hide kindness?
A Different Perspective
Surface impressions can be misleading; deeper character may differ.
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