--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What is the evolutionary value of…" description: "\"What is the evolutionary value of blushing? It seems not to be to our advantage to do it, to involuntarily reveal our inner emotions. If we're trying t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f9/frans-de-waal-2997_actions_what-is-the-evolutionary-value-of-blushi_1293342.jpg" --- # What is the evolutionary value of blushing? It seems not… ![“What is the evolutionary value of blushing? It seems not to be to our advantage to do it, to involuntarily reveal our inner emotions. If we're trying to manipulate or lie, actions in furtherance of individual goals as opposed to the goals of others, blushing would not seem to be helpful. And yet…” quote by Frans de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f9/frans-de-waal-2997_actions_what-is-the-evolutionary-value-of-blushi_1293342.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f9/frans-de-waal-2997_actions_what-is-the-evolutionary-value-of-blushi_1293342.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f9/frans-de-waal-2997_actions_what-is-the-evolutionary-value-of-blushi_1293342.jpg) > “What is the evolutionary value of blushing? It seems not to be to our advantage to do it, to involuntarily reveal our inner emotions. If we're trying to manipulate or lie, actions in furtherance of individual goals as opposed to the goals of others, blushing would not seem to be helpful. And yet everyone blushes, except the psychopath.” [Frans de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-de-waal/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Blushing reveals involuntary emotions, signaling honesty and social cohesion. **In simple terms:** Blush shows true feelings. Key Takeaway Acknowledge emotional honesty. Themes evolution emotion social signaling Mood reflective analytical Type scientific philosophical When to use this quote - interviews - social gatherings - conflict resolution Key Concepts honesty biology psychology Questions to Reflect On - Why do we blush when embarrassed? - Can blushing be controlled? A Different Perspective Blushing may expose vulnerability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actions/) [Advantage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advantage/) [Blushes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blushes/) [Blushing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blushing/) [Emotions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotions/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Lie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lie/) [Value](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/value/) ## Related quotes > [“Miss Clerricot blushes most charmingly and raises a hand to cover a portion of her countenance. It is a shame, this ill-feeling that exists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-trevor/miss-clerricot-blushes-most-charmingly-and-raises-a-hand-to-cover-a/) [William Trevor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-trevor/) > [“This looks like the red room of pain,” she says.  My mouth drops open. My little prude has been expanding her reading horizons. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tarryn-fisher/this-looks-like-the-red-room-of-pain-she-says-my-mouth-drops-open-my/) [Tarryn Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tarryn-fisher/) > [Blushes are the rainbow of modesty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-vaughan/blushes-are-the-rainbow-of-modesty/) [Bill Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-vaughan/) > [Blushes are fun. I like to do circles - like a Caravaggio painting almost, or Victorian looking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perfume-genius/blushes-are-fun-i-like-to-do-circles-like-a-caravaggio-painting/) [Perfume Genius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perfume-genius/) > [Kidd, turn off the light to spare my blushes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-james/kidd-turn-off-the-light-to-spare-my-blushes/) [Henry James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-james/) > [“She blushes like a rose in bloom, though I ripped her up from the roots long ago.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacey-jay/she-blushes-like-a-rose-in-bloom-though-i-ripped-her-up-from-the/) [Stacey Jay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacey-jay/) > [The man that blushes is not quite a brute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/the-man-that-blushes-is-not-quite-a-brute/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [“God, I bet I look like a bag of ass,” she blushes. “Nah, you look beautiful,” I tell her honestly,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-benson/god-i-bet-i-look-like-a-bag-of-ass-she-blushes-nah-you-look-beautiful/) [Kate Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-benson/) > [“He who blushes is already guilty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/he-who-blushes-is-already-guilty/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [“She blushed. 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If you are a child that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-tate/i-used-to-go-red-when-anybody-spoke-to-me-it-s-awful-because-you/) [Catherine Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-tate/) > [Blushes cannot be counterfeited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-of-valois/blushes-cannot-be-counterfeited/) [Margaret of Valois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-of-valois/) > [The person who still blushes is not yet a degenerate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/the-person-who-still-blushes-is-not-yet-a-degenerate/) [Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/) ## More by Frans de Waal > [Dogmatists have one advantage: they are poor listeners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-de-waal/dogmatists-have-one-advantage-they-are-poor-listeners/) [Frans de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-de-waal/) > [If both parties have a stake in the other, the chances of them killing each other are going to be reduced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-de-waal/if-both-parties-have-a-stake-in-the-other-the-chances-of-them-killing/) [Frans de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-de-waal/) > [I sometimes try to imagine what would have happened if we’d known the bonobo first and the chimpanzee only later—or not at all. 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