--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What Beatrice had done with her face…" description: "\"“What Beatrice had done with her face, actually, was what any plain girl could do. She had overlaid it with dignity, suffering, intelligence, and a piq..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a3/kurt-vonnegut-41_beatrice_what-beatrice-had-done-with-her-face-act_625921.jpg" --- # What Beatrice had done with her face, actually, was what… ![“What Beatrice had done with her face, actually, was what any plain girl could do. She had overlaid it with dignity, suffering, intelligence, and a piquant dash of bitchiness.” quote by Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a3/kurt-vonnegut-41_beatrice_what-beatrice-had-done-with-her-face-act_625921.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a3/kurt-vonnegut-41_beatrice_what-beatrice-had-done-with-her-face-act_625921.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a3/kurt-vonnegut-41_beatrice_what-beatrice-had-done-with-her-face-act_625921.jpg) > ““What Beatrice had done with her face, actually, was what any plain girl could do. She had overlaid it with dignity, suffering, intelligence, and a piquant dash of bitchiness.”” [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A woman can mask vulnerability with dignity, intellect, and a sharp edge, showing complex layers of human presentation. **In simple terms:** Women blend dignity, intelligence, and a touch of defiance. Key Takeaway Recognize the multifaceted nature of people. Themes gender identity presentation power dynamics Mood analytical empowering Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - workplace interactions - social gatherings - personal relationships - public speaking Key Concepts self-presentation social masks feminine strength Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance dignity and assertiveness? - What role does humor play in confronting adversity? A Different Perspective Assuming one trait defines a person is limiting. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bitchiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bitchiness/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) ## Related quotes > [Her face ... was a one-of-a-kind, a surprising variation on a familiar theme - a variation that made observers think, Yes - that would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/her-face-was-a-one-of-a-kind-a-surprising-variation-on-a-familiar/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“It appears that Venus has Beatrice’s face. Once again, I’m not interested in a historical analysis of the models for the painting. I’m simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/it-appears-that-venus-has-beatrice-s-face-once-again-i-m-not/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) > [There's a plain girl in everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-corr/there-s-a-plain-girl-in-everybody/) [Andrea Corr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-corr/) > [I always play girls who are quite traumatised, or a plain girl, but I'm happy with that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanne-froggatt/i-always-play-girls-who-are-quite-traumatised-or-a-plain-girl-but-i-m/) [Joanne Froggatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanne-froggatt/) > [“I know she’s rather plain, but every girl has a right to conceal that fact from people who haven’t seen her.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/i-know-she-s-rather-plain-but-every-girl-has-a-right-to-conceal-that/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [She was the only woman in the homicide unit, and already there had been problems between her and another detective, charges of sexual harassment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/she-was-the-only-woman-in-the-homicide-unit-and-already-there-had/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [“101 Reasons why its great to be a woman: We have an excuse to justify an inordinate indulgence in bitchiness: It's clearly feminine intuition.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/summersdale-publishers/101-reasons-why-its-great-to-be-a-woman-we-have-an-excuse-to-justify/) Summersdale Publishers > [How’s Her Royal Bitchiness?” “Alive.” “Pity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nalini-singh/how-s-her-royal-bitchiness-alive-pity/) [Nalini Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nalini-singh/) > [“There is something wrong with me. I freaking know that. And there’s something wrong with you. I don’t give a shit. I feel good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-mcintyre/there-is-something-wrong-with-me-i-freaking-know-that-and-there-s/) [Cheryl McIntyre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-mcintyre/) > [You don't have to hate her because she's a bitch, hate yourself for being bitchy enough to notice the bitchiness in her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tshepo-koos/you-don-t-have-to-hate-her-because-she-s-a-bitch-hate-yourself-for/) Tshepo Koos > [“Civility is important, even though bitchiness is expedient.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-tallulah-holland/civility-is-important-even-though-bitchiness-is-expedient/) Laura Tallulah Holland > [I can understand bitchiness in any language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/i-can-understand-bitchiness-in-any-language/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [“It wasn't like I'd woken up and decided to be a bitch, it was more like I'd woken up to find bitchiness thrust upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarra-manning/it-wasn-t-like-i-d-woken-up-and-decided-to-be-a-bitch-it-was-more/) [Sarra Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarra-manning/) > [“It was all conveyed by the nicest, almost indetectably refined blend of sympathy and bitchiness...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wyndham/it-was-all-conveyed-by-the-nicest-almost-indetectably-refined-blend/) [John Wyndham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wyndham/) > [“One more thing when they call you a bitch, say thank you. say thank you, very much.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-gatwood/one-more-thing-when-they-call-you-a-bitch-say-thank-you-say-thank-you/) [Olivia Gatwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-gatwood/) ## More by Kurt Vonnegut > [“You must bloom as a writer and I must bloom as a painter. Everything else about us is uninteresting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/you-must-bloom-as-a-writer-and-i-must-bloom-as-a-painter-everything/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“People aren't supposed to look back.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/people-aren-t-supposed-to-look-back/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“Have a good nap, did you?” said the porter. “Yes,” said Billy. “Man,” said the porter, “you sure had a hard-on.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/have-a-good-nap-did-you-said-the-porter-yes-said-billy-man-said-the/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“I told him that if we doubted that we are demons in Hell, he should read The Mysterious Stranger, which Mark Twain wrote in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/i-told-him-that-if-we-doubted-that-we-are-demons-in-hell-he-should/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [ “Thomas Jefferson High School \[..\] His high school was named after a slave owner who was also one of the world’s greatest theoreticians on… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/thomas-jefferson-high-school-his-high-school-was-named-after-a-slave/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“I had a certain amount of skill as a dramatist, and Dr. Goebbels wanted me to use it”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/i-had-a-certain-amount-of-skill-as-a-dramatist-and-dr-goebbels-wanted/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [I was some of the mud that got to sit up and look around. Lucky me, lucky mud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/i-was-some-of-the-mud-that-got-to-sit-up-and-look-around-lucky-me/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“The town was Newport, Rhode Island, U.S.A., Earth, Solar System, Milky Way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/the-town-was-newport-rhode-island-u-s-a-earth-solar-system-milky-way/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“Her face was one of a kind, a surprising variation that made observers think, Yes--that would be another very nice way for people to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/her-face-was-one-of-a-kind-a-surprising-variation-that-made-observers/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“You finally fell in love, I see,” said Salo. “Only an Earthling year ago,” said Constant. “It took us that long to realize that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/you-finally-fell-in-love-i-see-said-salo-only-an-earthling-year-ago/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“Like all Earthlings at the point of death, Mary Young sent faint reminders of herself to those who had known her. She released a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/like-all-earthlings-at-the-point-of-death-mary-young-sent-faint/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“And contrast Mary Kathleen, if you will, with my wife Ruth, the Ophelia of the death camps, who believed that even the most intelligent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/and-contrast-mary-kathleen-if-you-will-with-my-wife-ruth-the-ophelia/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [Someday, someday, this crazy world will have to end, And our God will take things back that He to us did lend. And if,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/someday-someday-this-crazy-world-will-have-to-end-and-our-god-will/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“They were going back to the slaughterhouse for souvenirs of the war.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/they-were-going-back-to-the-slaughterhouse-for-souvenirs-of-the-war/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“There are plenty of good reasons for fighting," I said, "but no good reason ever to hate without reservation, to imagine that God Almighty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/there-are-plenty-of-good-reasons-for-fighting-i-said-but-no-good/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) [Explore all 2,089 Kurt Vonnegut quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) ## More Beatrice quotes > [“Mums answer is so unexpected and I am a litte stunned, actually. I wonder whether, had I known the reason for my name as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosamund-lupton/mums-answer-is-so-unexpected-and-i-am-a-litte-stunned-actually-i/) [Rosamund Lupton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosamund-lupton/) > [“It's never an easy thing to be a woman, Beatrice. And a woman in power is more at risk than any other. She invites…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-mcgowan/it-s-never-an-easy-thing-to-be-a-woman-beatrice-and-a-woman-in-power/) [Jennifer McGowan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-mcgowan/) > [“In that moment I’m able to accept the inevitability of how I feel, though not with joy. I need to talk to someone. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/in-that-moment-i-m-able-to-accept-the-inevitability-of-how-i-feel/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“Is your underwear purple, too?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/is-your-underwear-purple-too/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [“To Beatrice- darling, dearest, dead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lemony-snicket/to-beatrice-darling-dearest-dead/) [Lemony Snicket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lemony-snicket/) > [“A nod at Beatrice who held absolutely still. "She said she would come with me. She insisted on it. She stamped her little foot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mette-ivie-harrison/a-nod-at-beatrice-who-held-absolutely-still-she-said-she-would-come/) [Mette Ivie Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mette-ivie-harrison/) > [“...you found me in my lonely labyrinth and like Beatrice, led me out of my own hell...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-geddes/you-found-me-in-my-lonely-labyrinth-and-like-beatrice-led-me-out-of/) [John Geddes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-geddes/) > [For Beatrice- When we were together I felt breathless. Now you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-beatrice-when-we-were-together-i-felt-breathless-now-you-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Oh, wow." "What do you think?" "I tried to imagine, but--I mean...it's so much more--" "Think it's large enough to keep you satisfied for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hunter/oh-wow-what-do-you-think-i-tried-to-imagine-but-i-mean-it-s-so-much/) [Elizabeth Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hunter/) > [“I love you, Beatrice De Novo. I fell in love with the girl I met six years ago, and I love the woman in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hunter/i-love-you-beatrice-de-novo-i-fell-in-love-with-the-girl-i-met-six/) [Elizabeth Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hunter/) > [“ There is a Beatrice who exists beyond the obligations of a daughter, outside the object of man's affections. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-mantchev/there-is-a-beatrice-who-exists-beyond-the-obligations-of-a-daughter/) [Lisa Mantchev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-mantchev/) > [“As at those words did I myself become; And all my love was so absorbed in Him, That in oblivion Beatrice was eclipsed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/as-at-those-words-did-i-myself-become-and-all-my-love-was-so-absorbed/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [“That, Beatrice, is how I will love you even as the world goes on its wicked way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lemony-snicket/that-beatrice-is-how-i-will-love-you-even-as-the-world-goes-on-its/) [Lemony Snicket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lemony-snicket/) > [Beatrice. We should think of our family. But. But we must also think of ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/beatrice-we-should-think-of-our-family-but-but-we-must-also-think-of/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“Well, niece, I hope to see you one day fitted with a husband. BEATRICE Not till God make men of some other metal than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/well-niece-i-hope-to-see-you-one-day-fitted-with-a-husband-beatrice/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) Browse all 53 Beatrice quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“What Beatrice had done with her face, actually, was what any plain girl could do. 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