--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Let it not be a beautiful face,' I…" description: "\"Let it not be a beautiful face,' I thought, 'but to make up for that, let it be a noble, an expressive, and, above all, an extremely intelligent one.\" ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1a/fyodor-dostoevsky-342_beautiful_let-it-not-be-a-beautiful-face-i-thought_2944489.png" --- # Let it not be a beautiful face,' I thought, 'but to make… ![“Let it not be a beautiful face,' I thought, 'but to make up for that, let it be a noble, an expressive, and, above all, an extremely intelligent one.” quote by Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1a/fyodor-dostoevsky-342_beautiful_let-it-not-be-a-beautiful-face-i-thought_2944489.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1a/fyodor-dostoevsky-342_beautiful_let-it-not-be-a-beautiful-face-i-thought_2944489.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1a/fyodor-dostoevsky-342_beautiful_let-it-not-be-a-beautiful-face-i-thought_2944489.png) > “Let it not be a beautiful face,' I thought, 'but to make up for that, let it be a noble, an expressive, and, above all, an extremely intelligent one.” [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A face should not merely be beautiful but also noble, expressive, and highly intelligent. **In simple terms:** Beauty needs nobility, expression, intelligence. Key Takeaway Cultivate inner qualities alongside outward appearance. Themes beauty intelligence nobility Mood reflective motivational Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - personal relationships - self‑presentation - leadership - artistic expression Key Concepts aesthetics character development Questions to Reflect On - What inner traits do you value most? - How can you develop both mind and appearance? A Different Perspective Physical beauty alone cannot sustain respect or influence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beautiful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beautiful/) [Beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beauty/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Noble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/noble/) ## Related quotes > [Silence is sometimes more significant and sublime than the most noble and most expressive eloquence, and is on many occasions the indication of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/silence-is-sometimes-more-significant-and-sublime-than-the-most-noble/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [“Let your noble spirit imbue the world with a living, present quality that whoever you met today can feel and connect with.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sravani-saha-nakhro/let-your-noble-spirit-imbue-the-world-with-a-living-present-quality/) [Sravani Saha Nakhro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sravani-saha-nakhro/) > [“I hated my face, for example, found it odious, and even suspected that there was some mean expression in it, and therefore every time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/i-hated-my-face-for-example-found-it-odious-and-even-suspected-that/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [I was brought up by two extremely intelligent people who gave me the greatest gift that man can give anyone, and that is freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-hepburn/i-was-brought-up-by-two-extremely-intelligent-people-who-gave-me-the/) [Katharine Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-hepburn/) > [“She's always been crazy about me but I don't know - I never thought she was very much. 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