---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Physiognomy is not a guide that has been…"
description: "\"Physiognomy is not a guide that has been given us by which to judge of the character of men: it may only serve us for conjecture. [Fr., La physionomie ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cd/jean-de-la-bruyere-575_character_physiognomy-is-not-a-guide-that-has-been_207056.jpg"
---

#  Physiognomy is not a guide that has been given us by which…

![“Physiognomy is not a guide that has been given us by which to judge of the character of men: it may only serve us for conjecture. &#91;Fr., La physionomie n'est pas une regle qui nous soit donnee pour juger des hommes; elle nous peut servir de conjecture.&#93;” quote by Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cd/jean-de-la-bruyere-575_character_physiognomy-is-not-a-guide-that-has-been_207056.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cd/jean-de-la-bruyere-575_character_physiognomy-is-not-a-guide-that-has-been_207056.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cd/jean-de-la-bruyere-575_character_physiognomy-is-not-a-guide-that-has-been_207056.jpg)

> “Physiognomy is not a guide that has been given us by which to judge of the character of men: it may only serve us for conjecture. \[Fr., La physionomie n'est pas une regle qui nous soit donnee pour juger des hommes; elle nous peut servir de conjecture.\]”

[Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Physiognomy offers only speculative insight, not a reliable method for judging character.

**In simple terms:** Physiognomy is guesswork, not a rule.

Key Takeaway

Use caution when judging based on appearance.

Themes

judgment skepticism human nature

Mood

critical analytical

Type

philosophical educational

When to use this quote

- hiring
- social interaction
- law enforcement

Key Concepts

physiognomy character assessment bias

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you avoid superficial judgments?
- What reliable methods assess character?

A Different Perspective

Relying on appearance can lead to misjudgment.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Character of a man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character-of-a-man/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Physiognomy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/physiognomy/)

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