--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's not an honest face. It's not a kind…" description: "\"“It's not an honest face. It's not a kind face. It's a face made of anger and secrets and lies. From the tight, guarded mouth to the clenched, square j..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/690/madeleine-george-41838_first-day-of-school_it-s-not-an-honest-face-it-s-not-a-kind_946656.jpg" --- # It's not an honest face. It's not a kind face. It's a face… ![“It's not an honest face. It's not a kind face. It's a face made of anger and secrets and lies. From the tight, guarded mouth to the clenched, square jaw to the glossy shimmer of I-dare-you that coats the surface of her eyes, Aimee's face is a scary place for Meghan's gaze to rest. But beneath the…” quote by Madeleine George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/690/madeleine-george-41838_first-day-of-school_it-s-not-an-honest-face-it-s-not-a-kind_946656.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/690/madeleine-george-41838_first-day-of-school_it-s-not-an-honest-face-it-s-not-a-kind_946656.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/690/madeleine-george-41838_first-day-of-school_it-s-not-an-honest-face-it-s-not-a-kind_946656.jpg) > ““It's not an honest face. It's not a kind face. It's a face made of anger and secrets and lies. From the tight, guarded mouth to the clenched, square jaw to the glossy shimmer of I-dare-you that coats the surface of her eyes, Aimee's face is a scary place for Meghan's gaze to rest. But beneath the gloss, behind the sharpness and tension, deep at Aimee's core, Meghan can see something warm and real. It's the same unnameable thing she saw in the sickroom on the first day of school. It's the same thing she feels pulsing softly deep in her own chest.”” [Madeleine George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-george/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A person may appear hostile and guarded, yet beneath that exterior lies genuine warmth and vulnerability that can be recognized by empathetic observers. **In simple terms:** A tough exterior can hide real kindness. Key Takeaway Look beyond appearances to find true feelings. Themes perception empathy identity vulnerability trust Mood reflective empathetic introspective Type narrative character study emotional insight When to use this quote - first meetings - conflict resolution - therapy sessions - team building Key Concepts psychology human behavior emotional intelligence Questions to Reflect On - What signs indicate hidden warmth? - How can you safely reveal your true self? A Different Perspective The warm core may be fleeting or hidden by deeper trauma. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [First Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-day/) [First day of school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-day-of-school/) [Secrets And Lies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secrets-and-lies/) ## Related quotes > [“How’s my sweet niece doing, still in her PJs even though it’s noon?” Meghan’s gaze shifts to me, suspicious. Yeah, it’s practically the walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-darhower/how-s-my-sweet-niece-doing-still-in-her-pjs-even-though-it-s-noon/) [J.M. Darhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-darhower/) > [“I was surprised at how much I enjoyed meeting fans face to face. They're less scary when they aren't going nuts at a Who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-townshend/i-was-surprised-at-how-much-i-enjoyed-meeting-fans-face-to-face-they/) [Pete Townshend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-townshend/) > [As you get older, it's good to open up and acknowledge that everybody has their scary moments, their negative moments. And in order to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolores-o-riordan/as-you-get-older-it-s-good-to-open-up-and-acknowledge-that-everybody/) [Dolores O'Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolores-o-riordan/) > [“This should be a pleasant little interview. All I have to do is put on my scary face." "You have a scary face?" Ingrid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-o-malley/this-should-be-a-pleasant-little-interview-all-i-have-to-do-is-put-on/) [Daniel O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-o-malley/) > [ILove How My Haters Spend Their Time Talking Stuff That Isn'tn Even True... Well Guess What You Wouldn't Say That 2 My Face Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-mendoza/ilove-how-my-haters-spend-their-time-talking-stuff-that-isn-tn-even/) Edith Mendoza > [“He looked at his face carefully in the glass, put a big dab of lather on each cheek-bone. "It's an honest face. It's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/he-looked-at-his-face-carefully-in-the-glass-put-a-big-dab-of-lather/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [I enjoy real people, down-to-earth people who are true to themselves and honest to your face - good or bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-aguilera/i-enjoy-real-people-down-to-earth-people-who-are-true-to-themselves/) [Christina Aguilera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-aguilera/) > [A friend will be there till the end! In the good and the bad. Won't through things in your face and will be understanding.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-ramos/a-friend-will-be-there-till-the-end-in-the-good-and-the-bad-won-t/) [Shirley Ramos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-ramos/) > [“Then Wang Lung turned to the woman and looked at her for the first time. She had a square, honest face, a short, broad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/then-wang-lung-turned-to-the-woman-and-looked-at-her-for-the-first/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [“She didn’t open up to me until I gave her my honest face.” “Your honest face doesn’t have to be that of a killer,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/she-didn-t-open-up-to-me-until-i-gave-her-my-honest-face-your-honest/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [“Secrets and lies, they eat your insides until all you have left is a hard thin skin that covers you like the shell of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-banks/secrets-and-lies-they-eat-your-insides-until-all-you-have-left-is-a/) [Russell Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-banks/) > [“There is something about Christmas that requires a rug rat. Little kids make Christmas fun. I wonder if could rent one for the holidays.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/there-is-something-about-christmas-that-requires-a-rug-rat-little/) [Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/) > [“One of the biggest problem is to notice everything,Secrets and lies kill relationships.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napz-cherub-pellazo/one-of-the-biggest-problem-is-to-notice-everything-secrets-and-lies/) [Napz Cherub Pellazo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napz-cherub-pellazo/) > [I always considered myself very successful even before the success of Secrets and Lies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-blethyn/i-always-considered-myself-very-successful-even-before-the-success-of/) [Brenda Blethyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenda-blethyn/) > [I've made six films since I made Secrets and Lies but I still live in London and I'd love to do theater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-blethyn/i-ve-made-six-films-since-i-made-secrets-and-lies-but-i-still-live-in/) [Brenda Blethyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenda-blethyn/) ## More by Madeleine George > [“Personally, I'm not a whiner. I don't believe in complaining about something if you don't have a realistic plan for how to fix it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-george/personally-i-m-not-a-whiner-i-don-t-believe-in-complaining-about/) [Madeleine George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-george/) > [“I'm sorry, honey. I'm sure if you were a terrorist, you'd make a wonderful one”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-george/i-m-sorry-honey-i-m-sure-if-you-were-a-terrorist-you-d-make-a/) [Madeleine George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-george/) > [“Hunger is a blade that carves me I open my arms and pull the air in -big hug!- then poof, right through me, nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-george/hunger-is-a-blade-that-carves-me-i-open-my-arms-and-pull-the-air-in/) [Madeleine George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-george/) > [ “I used to pinch those pages closed when I read the book to keep from having to see Joan \[of Arc\] fail. But now… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-george/i-used-to-pinch-those-pages-closed-when-i-read-the-book-to-keep-from/) [Madeleine George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-george/) > [“Once," Fran says, settling against the worktable, folding her arms, "I knew this kid who very bravely and bossily came out of the closet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-george/once-fran-says-settling-against-the-worktable-folding-her-arms-i-knew/) [Madeleine George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-george/) > [“I am carved like David, every line of my body perfectly chiseled. Hunger is the blade that has made me smooth. I am a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-george/i-am-carved-like-david-every-line-of-my-body-perfectly-chiseled/) [Madeleine George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-george/) > [“I knew this id who very bravely and bossily came out of the closet when she was only fourteen years old. She told me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-george/i-knew-this-id-who-very-bravely-and-bossily-came-out-of-the-closet/) [Madeleine George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-george/) > [“Anyway, if you need your heroes to be perfect, you won't have very many. Even Superman had his Kryptonite. I'd rather have my heroes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-george/anyway-if-you-need-your-heroes-to-be-perfect-you-won-t-have-very-many/) [Madeleine George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-george/) > [“Sometimes you have to sacrifice something you love, if you don't want to lose everything you have.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-george/sometimes-you-have-to-sacrifice-something-you-love-if-you-don-t-want/) [Madeleine George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-george/) [Explore all 10 Madeleine George quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-george/) ## More First day of school quotes > [I still get excited for band practice, like I love when we're about to go on tour and we all get together and practice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-gilbert/i-still-get-excited-for-band-practice-like-i-love-when-we-re-about-to/) [Chad Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-gilbert/) > [You know you're getting old when your FB timeline is no longer filled with baby photos...but first day of school photos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-know-you-re-getting-old-when-your-fb-timeline-is-no-longer-filled/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Why do people cry on the last day of school? You should be crying on the first day of school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/why-do-people-cry-on-the-last-day-of-school-you-should-be-crying-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [First day of school, walking into class, seeing who's in it & thinking to yourself, 'You've got to be f\*cking kidding me.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/first-day-of-school-walking-into-class-seeing-who-s-in-it-thinking-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Learn as much as you can while you are young, since life becomes too busy later.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-scott/learn-as-much-as-you-can-while-you-are-young-since-life-becomes-too/) Dana Scott > [Dress to impress or dress for success? First day of school problems!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dress-to-impress-or-dress-for-success-first-day-of-school-problems/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Fate often allows a future to take shape with no regard for our expectation, plan, or readiness. Fate's skillful editing of our life choices…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-richo/fate-often-allows-a-future-to-take-shape-with-no-regard-for-our/) [David Richo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-richo/) > [“On the first day of school, my teacher, Miss Mdingane, gave each of us an English name and said that from thenceforth that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/on-the-first-day-of-school-my-teacher-miss-mdingane-gave-each-of-us/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [On the first day of school, my father told me I'd be the most popular girl and everyone would love me and want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maeve-binchy/on-the-first-day-of-school-my-father-told-me-i-d-be-the-most-popular/) [Maeve Binchy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maeve-binchy/) > [First day of school! Wake up! Come on. First day of school. -Nemo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finding-nemo/first-day-of-school-wake-up-come-on-first-day-of-school-nemo/) Finding Nemo > [“He laughed. “You’re actually kind of cute. You should totally wear that your first day of school.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-l-stone/he-laughed-you-re-actually-kind-of-cute-you-should-totally-wear-that/) [C.L. Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-l-stone/) > [There was a time in my life when people called me 'Denim Dan.' I didn't like it. And fortunately for my self-esteem, it didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-levy/there-was-a-time-in-my-life-when-people-called-me-denim-dan-i-didn-t/) [Dan Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-levy/) > [ “\[THE DAILY BREATH\] Do you remember the first day of school, when your mom and dad gave you the new uniform, the shiny shoes… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dragos-bratasanu/the-daily-breath-do-you-remember-the-first-day-of-school-when-your/) [Dragos Bratasanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dragos-bratasanu/) > [I really hope I make some new friends at my first day of school today. I should probably pack some extra cookies to help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-really-hope-i-make-some-new-friends-at-my-first-day-of-school-today/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [First day of school: I'm actually gonna try this year! Next week: Yeah, no.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/first-day-of-school-i-m-actually-gonna-try-this-year-next-week-yeah-no/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 89 First day of school quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-day-of-school/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It's not an honest face. It's not a kind face. It's a face made of anger and secrets and lies. From the tight, guarded mouth to the clenched, square jaw to the glossy shimmer of I-dare-you that coats the surface of her eyes, Aimee's face is a scary place for Meghan's gaze to rest. But beneath the gloss, behind the sharpness and tension, deep at Aimee's core, Meghan can see something warm and real. It's the same unnameable thing she saw in the sickroom on the first day of school. It's the same thing she feels pulsing softly deep in her own chest.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Madeleine George" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-george/it-s-not-an-honest-face-it-s-not-a-kind-face-it-s-a-face-made-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "First day of school" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-george/it-s-not-an-honest-face-it-s-not-a-kind-face-it-s-a-face-made-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/690/madeleine-george-41838_first-day-of-school_it-s-not-an-honest-face-it-s-not-a-kind_946656.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/690/madeleine-george-41838_first-day-of-school_it-s-not-an-honest-face-it-s-not-a-kind_946656.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/690/madeleine-george-41838_first-day-of-school_it-s-not-an-honest-face-it-s-not-a-kind_946656.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's not an honest face. It's not a kind face. It's a face made of anger and secrets and lies. From the…” — Madeleine George", "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": "Madeleine George", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-george/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“It's not an honest face. It's...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-george/it-s-not-an-honest-face-it-s-not-a-kind-face-it-s-a-face-made-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-george/it-s-not-an-honest-face-it-s-not-a-kind-face-it-s-a-face-made-of/#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 } } ] } ```