--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No person who is well bred, kind and…" description: "\"No person who is well bred, kind and modest is ever offensively plain; all real deformity means want for manners or of heart.\" — John Ruskin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/776/john-ruskin-314_deformity_no-person-who-is-well-bred-kind-and-mode_474242.jpg" --- # No person who is well bred, kind and modest is ever… ![“No person who is well bred, kind and modest is ever offensively plain; all real deformity means want for manners or of heart.” quote by John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/776/john-ruskin-314_deformity_no-person-who-is-well-bred-kind-and-mode_474242.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/776/john-ruskin-314_deformity_no-person-who-is-well-bred-kind-and-mode_474242.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/776/john-ruskin-314_deformity_no-person-who-is-well-bred-kind-and-mode_474242.jpg) > “No person who is well bred, kind and modest is ever offensively plain; all real deformity means want for manners or of heart.” [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A truly refined person is never offensively plain; real flaws lie in manners or heart. **In simple terms:** Refinement hides true character flaws. Key Takeaway Cultivate good manners and a kind heart. Themes character etiquette authenticity Mood analytical observant Type critical philosophical When to use this quote - social gatherings - professional settings - family events Key Concepts social grace inner virtue Questions to Reflect On - How can we assess true character? - What habits reflect inner kindness? A Different Perspective Surface politeness can mask deeper issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Deformity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deformity/) [Deformity Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deformity-means-4051986/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Kind Modest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind-modest-4051984/) [Manners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manners/) [Modest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modest/) [Modest Offensively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modest-offensively-4051982/) [Offensively Plain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/offensively-plain-4051985/) [Person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/person/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real Deformity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-deformity-4051983/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) ## Related quotes > [No girl who is well bred, 'kind, and modest, is ever offensively plain; all real deformity means want of manners, or of heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/no-girl-who-is-well-bred-kind-and-modest-is-ever-offensively-plain/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [It seems to be a law of nature that no man, unless he has some obvious physical deformity, ever is loth to sit for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-beerbohm/it-seems-to-be-a-law-of-nature-that-no-man-unless-he-has-some-obvious/) [Max Beerbohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-beerbohm/) > [Most of the reasons for late-term abortions have to do with severe fetal deformities, but when I found out that dwarfism was also a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-h-richardson/most-of-the-reasons-for-late-term-abortions-have-to-do-with-severe/) [John H Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-h-richardson/) > [We know great Nature's pow'r, Mother of things, whose vast unbounded sway From the deep centre all around extends Wide to the flaming barriers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/we-know-great-nature-s-pow-r-mother-of-things-whose-vast-unbounded/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) > [In such a world as this, with such hearts as ours, weakness is wickedness in the long run. Whoever lets himself be shaped and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-maclaren/in-such-a-world-as-this-with-such-hearts-as-ours-weakness-is/) [Alexander MacLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-maclaren/) > [Well, I will scourge those apes, And to these courteous eyes oppose a mirror, As large as is the stage whereon we act; Where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/well-i-will-scourge-those-apes-and-to-these-courteous-eyes-oppose-a/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [All our distinctions ire accidental; beauty and deformity, though personal qualities, are neither entitled to praise nor censure; yet it so happens that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-georg-ritter-von-zimmermann/all-our-distinctions-ire-accidental-beauty-and-deformity-though/) [Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-georg-ritter-von-zimmermann/) > [He had a head which statuaries loved to copy, and a foot the deformity of which the beggars in the streets mimicked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/he-had-a-head-which-statuaries-loved-to-copy-and-a-foot-the-deformity/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [In all human love it must be realized that every man promises a woman, and every woman promises a man that which only God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/in-all-human-love-it-must-be-realized-that-every-man-promises-a-woman/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“Information leads to transformation. If you are not inspired by being informed, you will expire by becoming deformed!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/information-leads-to-transformation-if-you-are-not-inspired-by-being/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [I refuse the title of artist to those who owe their reputations to a physical deformity. I regard them as buffoons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-bernhardt/i-refuse-the-title-of-artist-to-those-who-owe-their-reputations-to-a/) [Sarah Bernhardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-bernhardt/) > [Physical deformity, calls forth our charity. But the infinite misfortune of moral deformity calls forth nothing but hatred and vengeance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/physical-deformity-calls-forth-our-charity-but-the-infinite/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [What’s with her?” says the painter. “She’s mad because she’s a woman,” Jon says. This is something I haven’t heard for years, not since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/what-s-with-her-says-the-painter-she-s-mad-because-she-s-a-woman-jon/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [By all means, there should be no children when either mother or father suffers from such diseases as tuberculosis, gonorrhea, syphilis, cancer, epilepsy, insanity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-sanger/by-all-means-there-should-be-no-children-when-either-mother-or-father/) [Margaret Sanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-sanger/) > [Rewards and punishments, to speak frankly, are the desk of the soul, that is, a means of enslaving a child's spirit, and better suited…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/rewards-and-punishments-to-speak-frankly-are-the-desk-of-the-soul/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) ## More by John Ruskin > [“Occult Theft,--Theft which hides itself even from itself, and is legal, respectable, and cowardly,--corrupts the body and soul of man, to the last fibre…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/occult-theft-theft-which-hides-itself-even-from-itself-and-is-legal/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [Mighty of heart, mighty of mind, magnanimous-to be this is indeed to be great in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/mighty-of-heart-mighty-of-mind-magnanimous-to-be-this-is-indeed-to-be/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [Life is a magic vase filled to the brim, so made that you cannot dip from it nor draw from it; but it overflows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/life-is-a-magic-vase-filled-to-the-brim-so-made-that-you-cannot-dip/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [As in the instances of alchemy, astrology, witchcraft, and other such popular creeds, political economy, has a plausible idea at the root of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/as-in-the-instances-of-alchemy-astrology-witchcraft-and-other-such/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [I am far more provoked at being thought foolish by foolish people, than pleased at being thought sensible by sensible people; and the average…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/i-am-far-more-provoked-at-being-thought-foolish-by-foolish-people/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [When we build ... let it not be for present delights nor for present use alone. Let it be such work as our descendants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/when-we-build-let-it-not-be-for-present-delights-nor-for-present-use/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [It is far more difficult to be simple than to be complicated; far more difficult to sacrifice skill and easy execution in the proper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/it-is-far-more-difficult-to-be-simple-than-to-be-complicated-far-more/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [It is a good and safe rule to sojourn in every place as if you meant to spend your life there, never omitting an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/it-is-a-good-and-safe-rule-to-sojourn-in-every-place-as-if-you-meant/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [“You may trust to the truth of my sympathy; but you must remember that I am engaged in the investigation of enormous religious and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/you-may-trust-to-the-truth-of-my-sympathy-but-you-must-remember-that/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [And remember, child, that nothing is ever done beautifully, which is done in rivalship; or nobly, which is done in pride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/and-remember-child-that-nothing-is-ever-done-beautifully-which-is/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [It’s unwise to pay too much, but it’s worse to pay too little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/it-s-unwise-to-pay-too-much-but-it-s-worse-to-pay-too-little/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [The world is full of vulgar Purists, who bring discredit on all selection by the silliness of their choice; and this the more, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/the-world-is-full-of-vulgar-purists-who-bring-discredit-on-all/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [Like other beautiful things in this world, its end (that of a shaft) is to be beautiful; and, in proportion to its beauty, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/like-other-beautiful-things-in-this-world-its-end-that-of-a-shaft-is/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [All are to be men of genius in their degree,--rivulets or rivers, it does not matter, so that the souls be clear and pure;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/all-are-to-be-men-of-genius-in-their-degree-rivulets-or-rivers-it/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [The art of drawing which is of more real importance to the human race than that of writing...should be taught to every child just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/the-art-of-drawing-which-is-of-more-real-importance-to-the-human-race/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) [Explore all 696 John Ruskin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) ## More Deformity quotes > [Rewards and punishments, to speak frankly, are the desk of the soul, that is, a means of enslaving a child's spirit, and better suited…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/rewards-and-punishments-to-speak-frankly-are-the-desk-of-the-soul/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [By all means, there should be no children when either mother or father suffers from such diseases as tuberculosis, gonorrhea, syphilis, cancer, epilepsy, insanity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-sanger/by-all-means-there-should-be-no-children-when-either-mother-or-father/) [Margaret Sanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-sanger/) > [What’s with her?” says the painter. “She’s mad because she’s a woman,” Jon says. This is something I haven’t heard for years, not since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/what-s-with-her-says-the-painter-she-s-mad-because-she-s-a-woman-jon/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [Physical deformity, calls forth our charity. But the infinite misfortune of moral deformity calls forth nothing but hatred and vengeance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/physical-deformity-calls-forth-our-charity-but-the-infinite/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [I refuse the title of artist to those who owe their reputations to a physical deformity. I regard them as buffoons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-bernhardt/i-refuse-the-title-of-artist-to-those-who-owe-their-reputations-to-a/) [Sarah Bernhardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-bernhardt/) > [“Information leads to transformation. If you are not inspired by being informed, you will expire by becoming deformed!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/information-leads-to-transformation-if-you-are-not-inspired-by-being/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [In all human love it must be realized that every man promises a woman, and every woman promises a man that which only God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/in-all-human-love-it-must-be-realized-that-every-man-promises-a-woman/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [He had a head which statuaries loved to copy, and a foot the deformity of which the beggars in the streets mimicked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/he-had-a-head-which-statuaries-loved-to-copy-and-a-foot-the-deformity/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [All our distinctions ire accidental; beauty and deformity, though personal qualities, are neither entitled to praise nor censure; yet it so happens that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-georg-ritter-von-zimmermann/all-our-distinctions-ire-accidental-beauty-and-deformity-though/) [Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-georg-ritter-von-zimmermann/) > [Well, I will scourge those apes, And to these courteous eyes oppose a mirror, As large as is the stage whereon we act; Where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/well-i-will-scourge-those-apes-and-to-these-courteous-eyes-oppose-a/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [In such a world as this, with such hearts as ours, weakness is wickedness in the long run. Whoever lets himself be shaped and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-maclaren/in-such-a-world-as-this-with-such-hearts-as-ours-weakness-is/) [Alexander MacLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-maclaren/) > [We know great Nature's pow'r, Mother of things, whose vast unbounded sway From the deep centre all around extends Wide to the flaming barriers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/we-know-great-nature-s-pow-r-mother-of-things-whose-vast-unbounded/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) > [Most of the reasons for late-term abortions have to do with severe fetal deformities, but when I found out that dwarfism was also a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-h-richardson/most-of-the-reasons-for-late-term-abortions-have-to-do-with-severe/) [John H Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-h-richardson/) > [It seems to be a law of nature that no man, unless he has some obvious physical deformity, ever is loth to sit for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-beerbohm/it-seems-to-be-a-law-of-nature-that-no-man-unless-he-has-some-obvious/) [Max Beerbohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-beerbohm/) > [Deformity of the heart I call The worst deformity of all; For what is form, or what is face, But the soul's index, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/deformity-of-the-heart-i-call-the-worst-deformity-of-all-for-what-is/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) [Browse all 92 Deformity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deformity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "No person who is well bred, kind and modest is ever offensively plain; all real deformity means want for manners or of heart.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Ruskin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/no-person-who-is-well-bred-kind-and-modest-is-ever-offensively-plain/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Deformity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/no-person-who-is-well-bred-kind-and-modest-is-ever-offensively-plain/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/776/john-ruskin-314_deformity_no-person-who-is-well-bred-kind-and-mode_474242.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/776/john-ruskin-314_deformity_no-person-who-is-well-bred-kind-and-mode_474242.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/776/john-ruskin-314_deformity_no-person-who-is-well-bred-kind-and-mode_474242.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“No person who is well bred, kind and modest is ever offensively plain; all real deformity means want for…” — John Ruskin", "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": "John Ruskin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "No person who is well bred,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/no-person-who-is-well-bred-kind-and-modest-is-ever-offensively-plain/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/no-person-who-is-well-bred-kind-and-modest-is-ever-offensively-plain/#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 } } ] } ```