--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we were living in ancient Rome or…" description: "\"If we were living in ancient Rome or Greece, I would be considered sickly and unattractive. The times dictate that thin is better for some strange reas..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be8/gwyneth-paltrow-1230_advocating_if-we-were-living-in-ancient-rome-or-gre_169708.jpg" --- # If we were living in ancient Rome or Greece, I would be… ![“If we were living in ancient Rome or Greece, I would be considered sickly and unattractive. The times dictate that thin is better for some strange reason, which I think is foolish.” quote by Gwyneth Paltrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be8/gwyneth-paltrow-1230_advocating_if-we-were-living-in-ancient-rome-or-gre_169708.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be8/gwyneth-paltrow-1230_advocating_if-we-were-living-in-ancient-rome-or-gre_169708.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be8/gwyneth-paltrow-1230_advocating_if-we-were-living-in-ancient-rome-or-gre_169708.jpg) > “If we were living in ancient Rome or Greece, I would be considered sickly and unattractive. The times dictate that thin is better for some strange reason, which I think is foolish.” [Gwyneth Paltrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwyneth-paltrow/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Societal beauty standards often label thinness as ideal, but such preferences are arbitrary and harmful. **In simple terms:** Thinness is socially prized but arbitrary. Key Takeaway Question and challenge narrow beauty norms. Themes beauty standards body image social pressure Mood reflective critical Type observational philosophical When to use this quote - fashion industry - social media - personal relationships Key Concepts cultural norms self‑esteem media influence Questions to Reflect On - How do you define attractiveness beyond societal expectations? - What steps can you take to resist harmful beauty standards? A Different Perspective Beauty ideals can cause mental health issues and exclusion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ancient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient/) [Ancient rome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient-rome/) [Greece](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greece/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Rome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rome/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [“The truth is heavier than a sword.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naiyem-chowdhury-rony/the-truth-is-heavier-than-a-sword/) [Naiyem Chowdhury Rony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naiyem-chowdhury-rony/) > [“The fervor and single-mindedness of this deification probably have no precedent in history. 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Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-c-scott/) > [“What you seem so unwilling to accept, even now, is this: that the ideals which supported the old Republic had no correspondence to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-williams/what-you-seem-so-unwilling-to-accept-even-now-is-this-that-the-ideals/) [John Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-williams/) > [“Ut haec ipsa qui non sentiat deorum vim habere is nihil omnino sensurus esse videatur." If any man cannot feel the power of God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/ut-haec-ipsa-qui-non-sentiat-deorum-vim-habere-is-nihil-omnino/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) ## More by Gwyneth Paltrow > [I think my days of trying outrageous things are over. I'm not looking for trends, I just want to be the best version of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwyneth-paltrow/i-think-my-days-of-trying-outrageous-things-are-over-i-m-not-looking/) [Gwyneth Paltrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwyneth-paltrow/) > [I was having such a hard time when I made Sylvia. I gave everything I had for that role. It's one or two or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwyneth-paltrow/i-was-having-such-a-hard-time-when-i-made-sylvia-i-gave-everything-i/) [Gwyneth Paltrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwyneth-paltrow/) > [I'm not great about putting on make-up, I look like a wreck half the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwyneth-paltrow/i-m-not-great-about-putting-on-make-up-i-look-like-a-wreck-half-the/) [Gwyneth Paltrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwyneth-paltrow/) > [Cameron Diaz is probably my biggest beauty mentor of my friends. She knows how to do her own hair and makeup; she's really good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwyneth-paltrow/cameron-diaz-is-probably-my-biggest-beauty-mentor-of-my-friends-she/) [Gwyneth Paltrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwyneth-paltrow/) > [I'm never going again on Met Gala. It was so un-fun. It was boiling. It was too crowded. I did not enjoy it at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwyneth-paltrow/i-m-never-going-again-on-met-gala-it-was-so-un-fun-it-was-boiling-it/) [Gwyneth Paltrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwyneth-paltrow/) > [The Jewish part of me is superstitious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwyneth-paltrow/the-jewish-part-of-me-is-superstitious/) [Gwyneth Paltrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwyneth-paltrow/) > [People think, "She's just a rich kid." Until I was 18, I was. Then I was broke. I've never taken a dime off my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwyneth-paltrow/people-think-she-s-just-a-rich-kid-until-i-was-18-i-was-then-i-was/) [Gwyneth Paltrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwyneth-paltrow/) > [I think part of a beauty routine is how you feel and checking in with your inner self, and so I made that commitment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwyneth-paltrow/i-think-part-of-a-beauty-routine-is-how-you-feel-and-checking-in-with/) [Gwyneth Paltrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwyneth-paltrow/) > [Women were real box office stars in the '40s, more so than men. People loved to see women's films. I think it was better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwyneth-paltrow/women-were-real-box-office-stars-in-the-40s-more-so-than-men-people/) [Gwyneth Paltrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwyneth-paltrow/) > [Spain is so different from the United States. It seemed to have a history, and the buildings are years and years and years old.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwyneth-paltrow/spain-is-so-different-from-the-united-states-it-seemed-to-have-a/) [Gwyneth Paltrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwyneth-paltrow/) > [Doubt, not self-reflection, comes from a destructive energy, and when it rears its head, I talk to it like a lunatic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwyneth-paltrow/doubt-not-self-reflection-comes-from-a-destructive-energy-and-when-it/) [Gwyneth Paltrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwyneth-paltrow/) > [When I turned 40 I thought, 'I have to really make sure I have time to myself,' because it's very overwhelming to be taking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwyneth-paltrow/when-i-turned-40-i-thought-i-have-to-really-make-sure-i-have-time-to/) [Gwyneth Paltrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwyneth-paltrow/) > [I like my friends here in London. They're intelligent and not looking over my shoulder at dinner to see if there's anyone better walking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwyneth-paltrow/i-like-my-friends-here-in-london-they-re-intelligent-and-not-looking/) [Gwyneth Paltrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwyneth-paltrow/) > [You're not learning anything unless you're having the difficult conversations,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwyneth-paltrow/you-re-not-learning-anything-unless-you-re-having-the-difficult/) [Gwyneth Paltrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwyneth-paltrow/) > [I think to have a regular job and be a mom is not as, of course there are challenges, but it's not like being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwyneth-paltrow/i-think-to-have-a-regular-job-and-be-a-mom-is-not-as-of-course-there/) [Gwyneth Paltrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwyneth-paltrow/) [Explore all 269 Gwyneth Paltrow quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwyneth-paltrow/) ## More Advocating quotes > [As an American I am of course fundamentally opposed to democracy and to anyone advocating or defending democracy, which in theory and practice is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-wilder-lane/as-an-american-i-am-of-course-fundamentally-opposed-to-democracy-and/) [Rose Wilder Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-wilder-lane/) > [I am not a terrorist, but neither am I a pacifist. 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That's something I've been advocating for years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-hall/i-d-like-to-see-more-crossover-between-white-and-black-music-that-s/) [Daryl Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-hall/) > [Every company can use someone advocating loudly for the customer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-dunn/every-company-can-use-someone-advocating-loudly-for-the-customer/) [Andy Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dunn/) > [Are the great spiritual teachings really advocating that we fight evil because we are on the side of light, the side of peace? 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