--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sherry would have been attractive, but…" description: "\"“Sherry would have been attractive, but hard living was not only worn on her yellow face. It was in the wrinkled frailty of her neck, like new-born ski..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e1/holliday-vann-33789_life_sherry-would-have-been-attractive-but-ha_1288970.jpg" --- # Sherry would have been attractive, but hard living was not… ![“Sherry would have been attractive, but hard living was not only worn on her yellow face. It was in the wrinkled frailty of her neck, like new-born skin. It was the crooked movement of her mouth when she talked, as if she spoke to someone to the left of her. And her ashy, knobby hands that smelled…” quote by Holliday Vann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e1/holliday-vann-33789_life_sherry-would-have-been-attractive-but-ha_1288970.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e1/holliday-vann-33789_life_sherry-would-have-been-attractive-but-ha_1288970.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e1/holliday-vann-33789_life_sherry-would-have-been-attractive-but-ha_1288970.jpg) > ““Sherry would have been attractive, but hard living was not only worn on her yellow face. It was in the wrinkled frailty of her neck, like new-born skin. It was the crooked movement of her mouth when she talked, as if she spoke to someone to the left of her. And her ashy, knobby hands that smelled of cigarette smoke, especially the right one. It was the stiff way she walked with her shoulders so high, as if she had gotten used to being rejected and run off the property. The hard living was in her movements, even in her spirit.”” [Holliday Vann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holliday-vann/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The protagonist’s hard life shows up in her appearance and demeanor, reflecting deep personal struggle. **In simple terms:** Hard living shows in her looks and behavior. Key Takeaway Notice how hardship shapes a person’s presence. Themes poverty health identity Mood empathetic somber Type descriptive narrative When to use this quote - urban poverty - healthcare access - social services - personal interviews Key Concepts physical decay social marginalization resilience Questions to Reflect On - What does her appearance reveal about her? - How might society support people like her? A Different Perspective Physical signs may not capture inner strength. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Sherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sherry/) ## Related quotes > [I believe in working hard, living right and putting God and family first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-tucker/i-believe-in-working-hard-living-right-and-putting-god-and-family/) [Justin Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-tucker/) > [I realize full well how hard it must be to go on living alone in a place from which someone has left you, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/i-realize-full-well-how-hard-it-must-be-to-go-on-living-alone-in-a/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [My parents are the best examples of working hard and living life to the fullest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-parents-are-the-best-examples-of-working-hard-and-living-life-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It’s been too hard living, but I’m afraid to die. ‘Cause I don’t know what’s up there, beyond the sky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-cooke/it-s-been-too-hard-living-but-i-m-afraid-to-die-cause-i-don-t-know/) [Sam Cooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-cooke/) > [“It’s hard to be a living dream when there’s no one around to dream for you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaughn-r-demont/it-s-hard-to-be-a-living-dream-when-there-s-no-one-around-to-dream/) [Vaughn R. Demont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaughn-r-demont/) > [It's so hard sometimes, living in this world. But I know from experience, it can always get better if you're willing to ask for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-french/it-s-so-hard-sometimes-living-in-this-world-but-i-know-from/) [Chris French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-french/) > [“Dying for a person that you love is easy ,what's hard is living for a person that you love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-qasim-ali/dying-for-a-person-that-you-love-is-easy-what-s-hard-is-living-for-a/) K. Qasim Ali > [Man, it's hard living in N.Y.C. - even when you have money in your pockets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/su-chin-pak/man-it-s-hard-living-in-n-y-c-even-when-you-have-money-in-your-pockets/) [Su-chin Pak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/su-chin-pak/) > [The mind of the writer does indeed do something before it dies, and so does its owner, but I would be hard put to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/the-mind-of-the-writer-does-indeed-do-something-before-it-dies-and-so/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [New York is hard living. It's fun living, but it's hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-wilson/new-york-is-hard-living-it-s-fun-living-but-it-s-hard/) [Casey Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-wilson/) > [Sometimes it's hard to keep on living but you're the one who's got to know just when it's right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parachute/sometimes-it-s-hard-to-keep-on-living-but-you-re-the-one-who-s-got-to/) [Parachute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parachute/) > [Lord, it's so hard, living this life A constant struggle each and everyday Some wonder why I'd rather die Than to continue living this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-copeland/lord-it-s-so-hard-living-this-life-a-constant-struggle-each-and/) [Rachel Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-copeland/) > [It is hard to go on living without some hope of encountering the extraordinary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-bloom/it-is-hard-to-go-on-living-without-some-hope-of-encountering-the/) [Harold Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-bloom/) > [I'll probably be punished for hard living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/i-ll-probably-be-punished-for-hard-living/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is but one Paris and however hard living may be here, and if it became worse and harder even—the French air clears up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-van-gogh/there-is-but-one-paris-and-however-hard-living-may-be-here-and-if-it/) [Vincent Van Gogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-van-gogh/) ## More by Holliday Vann > [“Yuck. Apple Martinis. Green rubbing alcohol in a crooked glass.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holliday-vann/yuck-apple-martinis-green-rubbing-alcohol-in-a-crooked-glass/) [Holliday Vann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holliday-vann/) > [“The day was several shades of gray depending upon where the eye wandered, and the streets were wet. But in a lower part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holliday-vann/the-day-was-several-shades-of-gray-depending-upon-where-the-eye/) [Holliday Vann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holliday-vann/) > [“On any woman, the shine was brilliant. But, in contrast to their dark skin, it truly was the Milky Way of watches.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holliday-vann/on-any-woman-the-shine-was-brilliant-but-in-contrast-to-their-dark/) [Holliday Vann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holliday-vann/) > [“The tiny snowflakes seemed not to be falling at all, just hovering in the air. So few flakes and so minute, it was as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holliday-vann/the-tiny-snowflakes-seemed-not-to-be-falling-at-all-just-hovering-in/) [Holliday Vann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holliday-vann/) > [“Dessah’s mind kept taking her to places she didn’t want to go. Hearing about her aunt’s heart attack, all of a sudden, her body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holliday-vann/dessah-s-mind-kept-taking-her-to-places-she-didn-t-want-to-go-hearing/) [Holliday Vann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holliday-vann/) > [“When you get to the house . . .” The child’s head was already saying yes before he could finish his question. “You gone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holliday-vann/when-you-get-to-the-house-the-child-s-head-was-already-saying-yes/) [Holliday Vann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holliday-vann/) > [“Dessah smiled, but only for a brief second, realizing that children nowadays knew that they were poor. If the children were not sure, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holliday-vann/dessah-smiled-but-only-for-a-brief-second-realizing-that-children/) [Holliday Vann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holliday-vann/) > [“He was watching. But her muscles in her back would not let her turn around to let him see in her eyes what being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holliday-vann/he-was-watching-but-her-muscles-in-her-back-would-not-let-her-turn/) [Holliday Vann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holliday-vann/) > [“The suicide attempt, like the rest of Dessah’s life, hadn’t worked out. She had awakened the next morning groggy as hell and merely rested.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holliday-vann/the-suicide-attempt-like-the-rest-of-dessah-s-life-hadn-t-worked-out/) [Holliday Vann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holliday-vann/) > [“Dessah pulled her legs up to her chest and laid her head between her knees. The mother that used to live inside of her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holliday-vann/dessah-pulled-her-legs-up-to-her-chest-and-laid-her-head-between-her/) [Holliday Vann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holliday-vann/) > [“The boys didn’t say a word. They stared at their mother, through to the back of her eyes, looking for her, but unable to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holliday-vann/the-boys-didn-t-say-a-word-they-stared-at-their-mother-through-to-the/) [Holliday Vann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holliday-vann/) > [“She’s dead.” Dessah was, at first, taken aback by the comment. “Did you hear me, Dessah? I said, ‘My mama is dead’.” With her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holliday-vann/she-s-dead-dessah-was-at-first-taken-aback-by-the-comment-did-you/) [Holliday Vann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holliday-vann/) > [“The River Li—like my name—sometimes lies green and quiet and flat like a long, winding mirror, without so much as a ripple from a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holliday-vann/the-river-li-like-my-name-sometimes-lies-green-and-quiet-and-flat/) [Holliday Vann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holliday-vann/) [Explore all 14 Holliday Vann quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holliday-vann/) ## More Life quotes > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/) [Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/) > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life works most perfectly when a reciprocal love relationship is in place between man and God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/life-works-most-perfectly-when-a-reciprocal-love-relationship-is-in/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) > [I value the experiences that come with life too much to sit by and not put my full effort into them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-miller/i-value-the-experiences-that-come-with-life-too-much-to-sit-by-and/) [Jim Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-miller/) > [Entertainment is a sacred pursuit when done well. When done well, it raises the quality of human life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/entertainment-is-a-sacred-pursuit-when-done-well-when-done-well-it/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [“There's more to life than you can see. Your sight is limited.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-kling/there-s-more-to-life-than-you-can-see-your-sight-is-limited/) [Tammy Kling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-kling/) > [“I've spent much of my life calling my intuition "something wrong with me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deanna-l-lawlis/i-ve-spent-much-of-my-life-calling-my-intuition-something-wrong-with/) Deanna L. Lawlis > [When you do things they're absolutely right at that time for you and it can always teach you something about yourself. You can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-marsh/when-you-do-things-they-re-absolutely-right-at-that-time-for-you-and/) [Kym Marsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-marsh/) > [The only people who think the Internet is a calamity are people whose lives have been hurt by it; the only people who insist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/the-only-people-who-think-the-internet-is-a-calamity-are-people-whose/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [The one thing that I keep learning over and over again is that I don't know nothing. I mean, that's my life lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/the-one-thing-that-i-keep-learning-over-and-over-again-is-that-i-don/) [Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The future is only an indifferent void no one cares about, but the past is filled with life, and its countenance is irritating, repellent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/the-future-is-only-an-indifferent-void-no-one-cares-about-but-the/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [Two things revolutionised life: moving to the countryside and falling in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-love/two-things-revolutionised-life-moving-to-the-countryside-and-falling/) [Nick Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-love/) > [But just remember, life without me would be even more unbearable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/but-just-remember-life-without-me-would-be-even-more-unbearable/) [Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/) [Browse all 265,290 Life quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Sherry would have been attractive, but hard living was not only worn on her yellow face. It was in the wrinkled frailty of her neck, like new-born skin. It was the crooked movement of her mouth when she talked, as if she spoke to someone to the left of her. And her ashy, knobby hands that smelled of cigarette smoke, especially the right one. It was the stiff way she walked with her shoulders so high, as if she had gotten used to being rejected and run off the property. The hard living was in her movements, even in her spirit.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Holliday Vann" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holliday-vann/sherry-would-have-been-attractive-but-hard-living-was-not-only-worn/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Life" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holliday-vann/sherry-would-have-been-attractive-but-hard-living-was-not-only-worn/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e1/holliday-vann-33789_life_sherry-would-have-been-attractive-but-ha_1288970.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e1/holliday-vann-33789_life_sherry-would-have-been-attractive-but-ha_1288970.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e1/holliday-vann-33789_life_sherry-would-have-been-attractive-but-ha_1288970.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Sherry would have been attractive, but hard living was not only worn on her yellow face. It was in the…” — Holliday Vann", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Holliday Vann", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holliday-vann/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Sherry would have been attractive, but...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holliday-vann/sherry-would-have-been-attractive-but-hard-living-was-not-only-worn/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holliday-vann/sherry-would-have-been-attractive-but-hard-living-was-not-only-worn/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```