--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have seen a face with a thousand…" description: "\"“I have seen a face with a thousand countenances, and a face that was but a single countenance as if held in a mould. I have seen a face whose sheen I ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/089/kahlil-gibran-1330_faces_i-have-seen-a-face-with-a-thousand-count_3209105.jpg" --- # I have seen a face with a thousand countenances, and a… ![“I have seen a face with a thousand countenances, and a face that was but a single countenance as if held in a mould. I have seen a face whose sheen I could look through to the ugliness beneath, and a face whose sheen I had to lift to see how beautiful it was. I have seen an old face much lined…” quote by Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/089/kahlil-gibran-1330_faces_i-have-seen-a-face-with-a-thousand-count_3209105.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/089/kahlil-gibran-1330_faces_i-have-seen-a-face-with-a-thousand-count_3209105.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/089/kahlil-gibran-1330_faces_i-have-seen-a-face-with-a-thousand-count_3209105.jpg) > ““I have seen a face with a thousand countenances, and a face that was but a single countenance as if held in a mould. I have seen a face whose sheen I could look through to the ugliness beneath, and a face whose sheen I had to lift to see how beautiful it was. I have seen an old face much lined with nothing, and a smooth face in which all things were graven. I know faces, because I look through the fabric my own eye weaves, and behold the reality beneath.”” [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Faces reveal hidden depths; superficial appearances mask inner truth, urging deeper perception beyond surface. **In simple terms:** Appearances hide inner reality. Key Takeaway Look beyond the surface. Themes perception identity truth beauty illusion Mood contemplative poetic introspective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - interpersonal relationships - art critique - self‑reflection - psychotherapy Key Concepts philosophy psychology artistic metaphor Questions to Reflect On - What hidden aspects do you overlook? - How can you see beyond appearances? A Different Perspective May be too abstract for some readers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Illusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illusion/) [Perception](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perception/) [Perspectives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perspectives/) [Prejudice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prejudice/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) ## Related quotes > [“Beneath the face of anyone you ever loved for true - anyone you love, you will always love, love is not at the mercy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-baldwin/beneath-the-face-of-anyone-you-ever-loved-for-true-anyone-you-love/) [James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-baldwin/) > [With God behind you and His arms beneath you, you can face whatever is before you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariane-corbito/with-god-behind-you-and-his-arms-beneath-you-you-can-face-whatever-is/) [Mariane Corbito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariane-corbito/) > [I think I just have one of those faces that can look like lots of different people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-rundle/i-think-i-just-have-one-of-those-faces-that-can-look-like-lots-of/) [Sophie Rundle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-rundle/) > [“Meanness always shows on people's faces. Sometimes you have to look hard for it. Sometimes it's just a part of a person's features" -Valencia”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-entrada-kelly/meanness-always-shows-on-people-s-faces-sometimes-you-have-to-look/) [Erin Entrada Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-entrada-kelly/) > [“How many times had Paladin looked into this human face, its features animated by neurological impulse alone? He did not know. Even if he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annalee-newitz/how-many-times-had-paladin-looked-into-this-human-face-its-features/) [Annalee Newitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annalee-newitz/) > [Kids can be cruel enough as it is, but cyber bullying or you're on Instagram and see your friends are all somewhere and you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-michaelson/kids-can-be-cruel-enough-as-it-is-but-cyber-bullying-or-you-re-on/) [Ingrid Michaelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-michaelson/) > [Just wondering but do you see two faces when you look in the mirror?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lexie-hoffman/just-wondering-but-do-you-see-two-faces-when-you-look-in-the-mirror/) Lexie Hoffman > [“It's like a—like a video panel, you know that? Your face. I don’t think you realize how much of what happens inside you that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julio-alexi-genao/it-s-like-a-like-a-video-panel-you-know-that-your-face-i-don-t-think/) [Julio-Alexi Genao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julio-alexi-genao/) > [Those who have seen your face. Draw back in fear I am the mask you wear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nightwish/those-who-have-seen-your-face-draw-back-in-fear-i-am-the-mask-you-wear/) Nightwish > [“So although only one of them had seen her face, and that just for a second, they let her disappear into the night, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-mullen/so-although-only-one-of-them-had-seen-her-face-and-that-just-for-a/) [Thomas Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-mullen/) > [“Christian leaders are called to help others affirm this great news, and to make visible in daily events the fact that behind the dirty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-j-m-nouwen/christian-leaders-are-called-to-help-others-affirm-this-great-news/) [Henri J.M. Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-j-m-nouwen/) > [It's been so long, that I haven't seen your face. I'm trying to be strong, but the strength I have is washing away..!!! <3(:](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asking-alexandria/it-s-been-so-long-that-i-haven-t-seen-your-face-i-m-trying-to-be/) [Asking Alexandria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asking-alexandria/) > [Take a moment to realize you have never seen your face in person, just reflections and pictures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/take-a-moment-to-realize-you-have-never-seen-your-face-in-person-just/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [These people haven't seen the last of my face. If I go down, I'm going down standing up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-person/these-people-haven-t-seen-the-last-of-my-face-if-i-go-down-i-m-going/) Chuck Person > [“How could I have let you do any of those things when I've never even seen your face? When I don't even know your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-medeiros/how-could-i-have-let-you-do-any-of-those-things-when-i-ve-never-even/) [Teresa Medeiros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-medeiros/) ## More by Kahlil Gibran > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [“It is to build a house with affection, even as if your beloved were to dwell in that house.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/it-is-to-build-a-house-with-affection-even-as-if-your-beloved-were-to/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [“The teacher who walks in the shadow of the temple, among his followers, gives not of his wisdom but rather of his faith and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/the-teacher-who-walks-in-the-shadow-of-the-temple-among-his-followers/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [We stood up and bade each other farewell, but love and despair stood between us like two ghosts, one stretching his wings with his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/we-stood-up-and-bade-each-other-farewell-but-love-and-despair-stood/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [“Oftentimes we call Life bitter names, but only when we ourselves are bitter and dark. And we deem her empty and unprofitable, but only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/oftentimes-we-call-life-bitter-names-but-only-when-we-ourselves-are/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [“And what is fear of need but need itself?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/and-what-is-fear-of-need-but-need-itself/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [“For God opens the doors of truth to him who knocks with the hand of faith”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/for-god-opens-the-doors-of-truth-to-him-who-knocks-with-the-hand-of/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [Who can depart from his pain and aloneness without regret? Too many fragments of the spirit have I scattered in these streets, and too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/who-can-depart-from-his-pain-and-aloneness-without-regret-too-many/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [“You are my brother and I love you. I love you worshipping in your church, kneeling in your temple, and praying in your mosque.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/you-are-my-brother-and-i-love-you-i-love-you-worshipping-in-your/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [“You need not fear, my love, for never have the stars on high told what they know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/you-need-not-fear-my-love-for-never-have-the-stars-on-high-told-what/) [Kahlil Gibrán](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [“The soul walks not upon a line, neither does it grow like a reed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/the-soul-walks-not-upon-a-line-neither-does-it-grow-like-a-reed/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [“For if you should enter the temple for no other purpose than asking you shall not receive:”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/for-if-you-should-enter-the-temple-for-no-other-purpose-than-asking/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [“For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you. Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/for-even-as-love-crowns-you-so-shall-he-crucify-you-even-as-he-is-for/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [“The deeper that sorrow carves into your being,the more joy you can contain. Is not the cup that holds your wine the very cup…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/the-deeper-that-sorrow-carves-into-your-being-the-more-joy-you-can/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [“You are good when you are fully awake in your speech.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/you-are-good-when-you-are-fully-awake-in-your-speech/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) [Explore all 233 Kahlil Gibran quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) ## More Faces quotes > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [Because the truth is that gossip is as good as gospel in this town. You can save face but you won't ever save your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/because-the-truth-is-that-gossip-is-as-good-as-gospel-in-this-town/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [My friends, this body - perhaps more than any other gathering in human history - now faces that difficult task.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/my-friends-this-body-perhaps-more-than-any-other-gathering-in-human/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [His fingertips slid down from my face, lightly stroking the line of my neck, down toward my shoulder. Everywhere he touched, a trail of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/his-fingertips-slid-down-from-my-face-lightly-stroking-the-line-of-my/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [I've seen every one, from Motley Crue to John Denver, with tears running down my face. I had no idea everyone had such a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-nicks/i-ve-seen-every-one-from-motley-crue-to-john-denver-with-tears/) [Stevie Nicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-nicks/) > [So," I said. "Seems you're going to be stuck with me for a while." He smiled. A real smile that lit up his whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/so-i-said-seems-you-re-going-to-be-stuck-with-me-for-a-while-he/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [We have a fear of facing ourselves. That is the obstacle. Experiencing the innermost core of our existence is very embarrassing to a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/we-have-a-fear-of-facing-ourselves-that-is-the-obstacle-experiencing/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [ I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with \[my wife\] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with-my-wife-in-december-24-1999/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [If I had a million dollars, I just wouldn't just completely set back. I'd have to get out there and show my face to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muddy-waters/if-i-had-a-million-dollars-i-just-wouldn-t-just-completely-set-back-i/) [Muddy Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muddy-waters/) > [It is proposed that a form of free dialogue may well be one of the most effective ways of investigating the crisis which faces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bohm/it-is-proposed-that-a-form-of-free-dialogue-may-well-be-one-of-the/) [David Bohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bohm/) > [If enough money is involved and enough people believe that two plus two equals five the media will report the story with a straight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/if-enough-money-is-involved-and-enough-people-believe-that-two-plus/) [Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/) > [Here comes old Rosie she's looking mighty fine, here comes hot Nancy she's steppin' right on time. There go the street lights bringing on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-seger/here-comes-old-rosie-she-s-looking-mighty-fine-here-comes-hot-nancy/) [Bob Seger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-seger/) > [A face is too slight a foundation for happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wortley-montagu/a-face-is-too-slight-a-foundation-for-happiness/) [Mary Wortley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wortley-montagu/) > [ That's probably why my face was looking so crazy when I was crying \[in "Hardball"\] because it was some real. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/that-s-probably-why-my-face-was-looking-so-crazy-when-i-was-crying-in/) [Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/) > [Are we fighting?" I asked Morelli. "No. Were discussing." "Are you sure?" "Am I yelling?" Morelli asked. "Is my face purple? Are the cords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/are-we-fighting-i-asked-morelli-no-were-discussing-are-you-sure-am-i/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) [Browse all 13,128 Faces quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I have seen a face with a thousand countenances, and a face that was but a single countenance as if held in a mould. I have seen a face whose sheen I could look through to the ugliness beneath, and a face whose sheen I had to lift to see how beautiful it was. I have seen an old face much lined with nothing, and a smooth face in which all things were graven. 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