Beauty Quote by Leo Tolstoy
““Her eyes, always sad, now looked into the mirror with particular hopelessness. "She's flattering me," thought the princess, and she turned away and went on reading. Julie, however, was not flattering her friend: indeed, the princess's eyes, large, deep, and luminous (sometimes it was as if rays of light came from them in sheaves), were so beautiful that very often, despite the unattractiveness of the whole face, those eyes were more attractive than beauty. But the princess had never seen the good expression of thise eyes, the expression they had in moments when she was not thinking of herself. As with all people, the moment she looked in the mirror, her face assumed a strained, unnatural, bad expression.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Anna Karenina, 1877
Self‑absorption blinds us to our own beauty, while genuine self‑reflection reveals deeper inner qualities beyond surface appearance.
In simple terms: Self‑reflection reveals true beauty.
Key Takeaway
Look beyond surface to see inner worth.
Themes
self‑awareness
beauty
reflection
Mood
introspective
melancholic
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal growth
- art criticism
- mental health counseling
- self‑esteem work
Key Concepts
psychology
literary analysis
Questions to Reflect On
- When do you notice your own self‑criticism?
- How can you cultivate a kinder inner voice?
A Different Perspective
Self‑reflection can be painful and may trigger insecurity.
