---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Was it their face, in fact, for which…"
description: "\"“Was it their face, in fact, for which they were guilty? Did it fail to please in some way? Worse yet, did it offend? IN”\" — Julie Otsuka"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b1/julie-otsuka-13846_offend_was-it-their-face-in-fact-for-which-they_2297243.jpg"
---

#  Was it their face, in fact, for which they were guilty?…

![“Was it their face, in fact, for which they were guilty? Did it fail to please in some way? Worse yet, did it offend? IN” quote by Julie Otsuka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b1/julie-otsuka-13846_offend_was-it-their-face-in-fact-for-which-they_2297243.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b1/julie-otsuka-13846_offend_was-it-their-face-in-fact-for-which-they_2297243.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b1/julie-otsuka-13846_offend_was-it-their-face-in-fact-for-which-they_2297243.jpg)

> ““Was it their face, in fact, for which they were guilty? Did it fail to please in some way? Worse yet, did it offend? IN””

[Julie Otsuka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-otsuka/)

## About This Quote

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

The narrator questions whether a person's physical appearance can be a source of guilt or offense, reflecting on how judgment often stems from superficial traits.

**In simple terms:** Looks at how looks can cause blame or hurt.

Key Takeaway

Examine how appearances affect judgments.

Themes

judgment appearance guilt

Mood

introspective critical

Type

philosophical literary

When to use this quote

- interpersonal conflict
- self‑reflection
- cultural critique

Key Concepts

social perception self‑esteem

Questions to Reflect On

- How do we let appearance shape our judgments?
- Can we see beyond looks?

A Different Perspective

Physical traits don’t fully define moral character.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Did Offend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/did-offend-1492339/) [Face Fact](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/face-fact-278653/) [Fact Guilty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fact-guilty-2364749/) [Guilty Did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guilty-did-2358247/) [Offend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/offend/)

## Related quotes

> [Did I offend you with my opinion? Oh well, you should hear the ones I keep to myself...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/did-i-offend-you-with-my-opinion-oh-well-you-should-hear-the-ones-i/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Or was their guilt written plainly, and for all the world to see, across their face? Was it their face, in fact, for which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-otsuka/or-was-their-guilt-written-plainly-and-for-all-the-world-to-see/)

[Julie Otsuka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-otsuka/)

> [“None of that! Do you enjoy finding opportunities to feel guilty?” Did”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-underwood/none-of-that-do-you-enjoy-finding-opportunities-to-feel-guilty-did/)

[Timothy Underwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-underwood/)

> [“Did I offend you?” Lannister said. “Sorry. Dwarfs don’t have to be tactful. Generations of capering fools in motley have won me the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/did-i-offend-you-lannister-said-sorry-dwarfs-don-t-have-to-be-tactful/)

[George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/)

> [“…it’s better in fact to be guilty of manslaughter than of fraud about what is fair and just.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/it-s-better-in-fact-to-be-guilty-of-manslaughter-than-of-fraud-about/)

[Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/)

> [I wish I could say I felt guilty for what I did. I don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-wish-i-could-say-i-felt-guilty-for-what-i-did-i-don-t/)

[Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/)

> [Well, I always run the risk of falling on my face, which has in fact happened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-carne/well-i-always-run-the-risk-of-falling-on-my-face-which-has-in-fact/)

[Marcel Carne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-carne/)

> [You must learn to face the fact, always, that you choose to do what you do, and that everything you do affects not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-lisle/you-must-learn-to-face-the-fact-always-that-you-choose-to-do-what-you/)

[Holly Lisle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-lisle/)

> [I should really FACE up to the fact you never let me DOWN even when I'm a complete ASS you never give UP on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-should-really-face-up-to-the-fact-you-never-let-me-down-even-when-i/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“I would prefer to have gum on my face than own up to the fact that I accidentally got gum on my face. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-thompson/i-would-prefer-to-have-gum-on-my-face-than-own-up-to-the-fact-that-i/)

[Alicia Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-thompson/)

> [Its hard to face but the fact remains.. although this is nothing new](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avenged-sevenfold/its-hard-to-face-but-the-fact-remains-although-this-is-nothing-new/)

[Avenged Sevenfold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avenged-sevenfold/)

> [People ask could I have written the show I wrote in 1990 now, and I don't think I could. I think it's much easier…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-saunders/people-ask-could-i-have-written-the-show-i-wrote-in-1990-now-and-i/)

[Jennifer Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-saunders/)

> [And, re-assembling our afflicted powers, consult how we may henceforth most offend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/and-re-assembling-our-afflicted-powers-consult-how-we-may-henceforth/)

[John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/)

> [“I didn't mean to offend," he quickly adds. "Then, what exactly did you mean to say?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dhonielle-clayton/i-didn-t-mean-to-offend-he-quickly-adds-then-what-exactly-did-you/)

[Dhonielle Clayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dhonielle-clayton/)

> [“the key: at least in the body of Christ, never presume that someone intended to offend you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-riccardo/the-key-at-least-in-the-body-of-christ-never-presume-that-someone/)

[John Riccardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-riccardo/)

## More by Julie Otsuka

> [“In early autumn the farm recruiters arrived to sign up new workers, and the War Relocation Authority allowed many of the young men and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-otsuka/in-early-autumn-the-farm-recruiters-arrived-to-sign-up-new-workers/)

[Julie Otsuka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-otsuka/)

> [And if anyone asks, you're Chinese. The boy had nodded. "Chinese," he whispered. "I'm Chinese." "And I," said the girl, "am the Queen of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-otsuka/and-if-anyone-asks-you-re-chinese-the-boy-had-nodded-chinese-he/)

[Julie Otsuka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-otsuka/)

> [“We praised them when they were kind to others but told them not to expect to be rewarded for their good deeds. We scolded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-otsuka/we-praised-them-when-they-were-kind-to-others-but-told-them-not-to/)

[Julie Otsuka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-otsuka/)

> [“SOME SAID that the men had been put on trains and sent far away, over the mountains, to the coldest part of the country.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-otsuka/some-said-that-the-men-had-been-put-on-trains-and-sent-far-away-over/)

[Julie Otsuka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-otsuka/)

> [“They learned that some people are born luckier than others and that things in this world do not always go as you plan. STILL”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-otsuka/they-learned-that-some-people-are-born-luckier-than-others-and-that/)

[Julie Otsuka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-otsuka/)

> [“Don't touch me," said the girl. "I want to be sick by myself." "That's impossible," said her mother. She continued to rub her back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-otsuka/don-t-touch-me-said-the-girl-i-want-to-be-sick-by-myself-that-s/)

[Julie Otsuka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-otsuka/)

> [“A Japanese can live on a teaspoonful of rice a day. We were the best breed of worker they had ever hired in their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-otsuka/a-japanese-can-live-on-a-teaspoonful-of-rice-a-day-we-were-the-best/)

[Julie Otsuka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-otsuka/)

> [“They learned that they should always call the restaurant first. Do you serve Japanese?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-otsuka/they-learned-that-they-should-always-call-the-restaurant-first-do-you/)

[Julie Otsuka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-otsuka/)

> [“And if they ask you someday what it was I most wanted to say, please tell them, if you would, it was this: I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-otsuka/and-if-they-ask-you-someday-what-it-was-i-most-wanted-to-say-please/)

[Julie Otsuka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-otsuka/)

> [“Many of us had lost everything and left saying nothing at all. All of us left wearing white numbered identification tags tied to our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-otsuka/many-of-us-had-lost-everything-and-left-saying-nothing-at-all-all-of/)

[Julie Otsuka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-otsuka/)

> [“Because the man who stood there before us was not our father. He was somebody else, a stranger who had been sent back in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-otsuka/because-the-man-who-stood-there-before-us-was-not-our-father-he-was/)

[Julie Otsuka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-otsuka/)

> [“ladies began boycotting our fruit stands because they were afraid our produce might be tainted with arsenic. Insurance companies canceled our insurance. Banks froze…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-otsuka/ladies-began-boycotting-our-fruit-stands-because-they-were-afraid-our/)

[Julie Otsuka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-otsuka/)

> [“Their old life seemed far away and remote to him now, like a dream he could not quite remember. The bright green grass, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-otsuka/their-old-life-seemed-far-away-and-remote-to-him-now-like-a-dream-he/)

[Julie Otsuka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-otsuka/)

> [“The ads in the papers all said 'help wanted, will train,' but wherever she went she was turned down. "The position's just been filled,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-otsuka/the-ads-in-the-papers-all-said-help-wanted-will-train-but-wherever/)

[Julie Otsuka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-otsuka/)

> [“Or was their guilt written plainly, and for all the world to see, across their face? Was it their face, in fact, for which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-otsuka/or-was-their-guilt-written-plainly-and-for-all-the-world-to-see/)

[Julie Otsuka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-otsuka/)

[Explore all 48 Julie Otsuka quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-otsuka/)

## More Offend quotes

> [“the key: at least in the body of Christ, never presume that someone intended to offend you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-riccardo/the-key-at-least-in-the-body-of-christ-never-presume-that-someone/)

[John Riccardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-riccardo/)

> [“I didn't mean to offend," he quickly adds. "Then, what exactly did you mean to say?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dhonielle-clayton/i-didn-t-mean-to-offend-he-quickly-adds-then-what-exactly-did-you/)

[Dhonielle Clayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dhonielle-clayton/)

> [And, re-assembling our afflicted powers, consult how we may henceforth most offend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/and-re-assembling-our-afflicted-powers-consult-how-we-may-henceforth/)

[John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/)

> [People ask could I have written the show I wrote in 1990 now, and I don't think I could. I think it's much easier…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-saunders/people-ask-could-i-have-written-the-show-i-wrote-in-1990-now-and-i/)

[Jennifer Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-saunders/)

> [“Offence is like muddy soil; when trapped underfoot, it resists rapid progress. Don't trap offences under your mind, else you resist change! Jesus said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/offence-is-like-muddy-soil-when-trapped-underfoot-it-resists-rapid/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [I think the biggest insult, the worst way you can offend a Mexican, is to insult their mother. A mother is the most sacred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emiliano-salinas/i-think-the-biggest-insult-the-worst-way-you-can-offend-a-mexican-is/)

[Emiliano Salinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emiliano-salinas/)

> [Fear God, and offend not the Prince nor his laws, and keep thyself out of the magistrate's claws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-tusser/fear-god-and-offend-not-the-prince-nor-his-laws-and-keep-thyself-out/)

[Thomas Tusser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-tusser/)

> [It may offend us to hear our own thoughts expressed by others: we are not sure enough of their souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rostand/it-may-offend-us-to-hear-our-own-thoughts-expressed-by-others-we-are/)

[Jean Rostand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rostand/)

> [“If a couple of gay guys want to throw the gayest, most fabulous wedding of all time, the only way it should offend you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orlando-winters/if-a-couple-of-gay-guys-want-to-throw-the-gayest-most-fabulous/)

[Orlando Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orlando-winters/)

> [I'd rather entertain people than offend them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-kinison/i-d-rather-entertain-people-than-offend-them/)

[Sam Kinison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-kinison/)

> [“To know if someone can speak offensively or politely, don’t give him poem to recite; don’t give him a song to sing. Just engage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/to-know-if-someone-can-speak-offensively-or-politely-don-t-give-him/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [To speak and to offend is with some people but one and the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/to-speak-and-to-offend-is-with-some-people-but-one-and-the-same-thing/)

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

> [“Leaders create influence with the clays of criticism others throw at them. They don't take offence; they take corrections.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/leaders-create-influence-with-the-clays-of-criticism-others-throw-at/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [We should never intentionally offend, but if you follow Jesus, you will offend religious people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darrin-patrick/we-should-never-intentionally-offend-but-if-you-follow-jesus-you-will/)

[Darrin Patrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darrin-patrick/)

> [If a situation came about something that would offend someone culturally, I would definitely speak up. WWE would want us to speak up because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jinder-mahal/if-a-situation-came-about-something-that-would-offend-someone/)

[Jinder Mahal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jinder-mahal/)

[Browse all 255 Offend quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/offend/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Was it their face, in fact, for which they were guilty? Did it fail to please in some way? Worse yet, did it offend? IN”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Julie Otsuka"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-otsuka/was-it-their-face-in-fact-for-which-they-were-guilty-did-it-fail-to/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Offend"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-otsuka/was-it-their-face-in-fact-for-which-they-were-guilty-did-it-fail-to/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b1/julie-otsuka-13846_offend_was-it-their-face-in-fact-for-which-they_2297243.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b1/julie-otsuka-13846_offend_was-it-their-face-in-fact-for-which-they_2297243.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b1/julie-otsuka-13846_offend_was-it-their-face-in-fact-for-which-they_2297243.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Was it their face, in fact, for which they were guilty? Did it fail to please in some way? Worse yet, did it…” — Julie Otsuka",
                "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": "Julie Otsuka",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-otsuka/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Was it their face, in fact,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-otsuka/was-it-their-face-in-fact-for-which-they-were-guilty-did-it-fail-to/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-otsuka/was-it-their-face-in-fact-for-which-they-were-guilty-did-it-fail-to/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
