--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We call comeliness a mischance in the…" description: "\"We call comeliness a mischance in the first respect, which belongs principally to the face.\" — Michel de Montaigne" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d4/michel-de-montaigne-142_beauty_we-call-comeliness-a-mischance-in-the-fi_1211543.jpg" --- # We call comeliness a mischance in the first respect, which… ![“We call comeliness a mischance in the first respect, which belongs principally to the face.” quote by Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d4/michel-de-montaigne-142_beauty_we-call-comeliness-a-mischance-in-the-fi_1211543.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d4/michel-de-montaigne-142_beauty_we-call-comeliness-a-mischance-in-the-fi_1211543.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d4/michel-de-montaigne-142_beauty_we-call-comeliness-a-mischance-in-the-fi_1211543.jpg) > “We call comeliness a mischance in the first respect, which belongs principally to the face.” [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Physical attractiveness is often seen as chance, especially regarding facial features, rather than a deliberate quality. **In simple terms:** Beauty is largely about luck, especially facial. Key Takeaway Recognize that beauty is not fully controllable. Themes appearance philosophy beauty Mood reflective analytical Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - self‑esteem - media representation - interpersonal relations Key Concepts subjectivity social perception Questions to Reflect On - How does society’s emphasis on looks affect self‑worth? - Can we shift focus from looks to character? A Different Perspective Focusing on appearance can distract from deeper values. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beauty/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Mischance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mischance/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) ## Related quotes > [Yea, much more those that seem to be the more feeble members of the body, are more necessary. And such as we think to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-the-apostle/yea-much-more-those-that-seem-to-be-the-more-feeble-members-of-the/) [Paul the Apostle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-the-apostle/) > [“Himself an ugly man, insignificant of appearance, he prized very highly comeliness in others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/somerset-maugham/himself-an-ugly-man-insignificant-of-appearance-he-prized-very-highly/) [Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/somerset-maugham/) > [“Those who remarked in the countenance of this young hero a dissolute audacity mingled with extreme haughtiness ... could not yet deny to his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-walter-scott/those-who-remarked-in-the-countenance-of-this-young-hero-a-dissolute/) [Sir Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sir-walter-scott/) > [By some curious mischance, a couple of my plays managed to hit an area where commercial success was feasible. But it's wrong to think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/by-some-curious-mischance-a-couple-of-my-plays-managed-to-hit-an-area/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [At a period when Literature was wont to attribute the grief of living exclusively to the mischances of disappointed love or the jealousy of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joris-karl-huysmans/at-a-period-when-literature-was-wont-to-attribute-the-grief-of-living/) [Joris-Karl Huysmans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joris-karl-huysmans/) > [Who doubting tyranny, and fainting under Fortune's false lottery, desperately run To death, for dread of death; that soul's most stout, That, bearing all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-beaumont/who-doubting-tyranny-and-fainting-under-fortune-s-false-lottery/) [Francis Beaumont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-beaumont/) > [optimism, n. The doctrine, or belief, that everything is beautiful, including what is ugly, everything good, especially the bad, and everything right that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/optimism-n-the-doctrine-or-belief-that-everything-is-beautiful-2/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [I shall always be consistent and never change my ways so long as I am in my senses; but for the sake of precedent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiberius/i-shall-always-be-consistent-and-never-change-my-ways-so-long-as-i-am/) [Tiberius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiberius/) > [You will reply that reality hasn't the slightest need to be of interest. And I'll answer you that reality may avoid the obligation to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/you-will-reply-that-reality-hasn-t-the-slightest-need-to-be-of/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [Although the season is joyful everywhere, / And mountain and valley are all verdant, / That would seem a truly small matter to him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hadewijch/although-the-season-is-joyful-everywhere-and-mountain-and-valley-are/) [Hadewijch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hadewijch/) > [In the difficult are the friendly forces, the hands that work on us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/in-the-difficult-are-the-friendly-forces-the-hands-that-work-on-us/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [It is true to say that I was nurtured on Bible stories but mostly concerned with sacrifice. If by some mischance I did, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-george-haigh/it-is-true-to-say-that-i-was-nurtured-on-bible-stories-but-mostly/) John George Haigh > [Yield not thy neck To fortunes yoke, but let thy dauntless mind Still ride in triumph over all mischance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/yield-not-thy-neck-to-fortunes-yoke-but-let-thy-dauntless-mind-still/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [If we love one another, nothing, in truth, can harm us, whatever mischances may happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/if-we-love-one-another-nothing-in-truth-can-harm-us-whatever/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [Intemperance is naturally punished with diseases; rashness, with mischance; injustice; with violence of enemies; pride, with ruin; cowardice, with oppression; and rebellion, with slaughter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/intemperance-is-naturally-punished-with-diseases-rashness-with/) [Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/) ## More by Michel de Montaigne > [No man is exempt from saying silly things; the mischief is to say them deliberately.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/no-man-is-exempt-from-saying-silly-things-the-mischief-is-to-say-them/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The laws keep up their credit, not by being just, but because they are laws; 'tis the mystic foundation of their authority; they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-laws-keep-up-their-credit-not-by-being-just-but-because-they-are/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Every one rushes elsewhere and into the future, because no one wants to face one's own inner self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/every-one-rushes-elsewhere-and-into-the-future-because-no-one-wants/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Beauty is the true prerogative of women, and so peculiarly their own, that our sex, though naturally requiring another sort of feature, is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/beauty-is-the-true-prerogative-of-women-and-so-peculiarly-their-own/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The height and value of true virtue consists in the facility, utility, and pleasure of its exercise; so far from difficulty, that boys, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-height-and-value-of-true-virtue-consists-in-the-facility-utility/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Fie on the eloquence that leaves us craving itself, not things!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/fie-on-the-eloquence-that-leaves-us-craving-itself-not-things/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The plainest sign of wisdom is a continual cheerfulness: her state is like that of things in the regions above the moon, always clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-plainest-sign-of-wisdom-is-a-continual-cheerfulness-her-state-is/) [Michel De Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The corruption of the age is made up by the particular contribution of every individual man; some contribute treachery, others injustice, atheism, tyranny, avarice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-corruption-of-the-age-is-made-up-by-the-particular-contribution/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [If people must be talking about me, I would have it to be truthfully and justly. I would willingly return from the next world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/if-people-must-be-talking-about-me-i-would-have-it-to-be-truthfully/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Most pleasures embrace us but to strangle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/most-pleasures-embrace-us-but-to-strangle/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [In true friendship, in which I am expert, I give myself to my friend more than I draw him to me. I not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/in-true-friendship-in-which-i-am-expert-i-give-myself-to-my-friend/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [There are as many and innumerable degrees of wit, as there are cubits between this and heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/there-are-as-many-and-innumerable-degrees-of-wit-as-there-are-cubits/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [A man has need of tough ears to hear himself fairly judged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/a-man-has-need-of-tough-ears-to-hear-himself-fairly-judged/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Lucius Arruntius killed himself, he said, to escape both the future and the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/lucius-arruntius-killed-himself-he-said-to-escape-both-the-future-and/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [I have a vocabulary all my own. I pass the time when itis wet and disagreeable. Whenit is fine I do not wish to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/i-have-a-vocabulary-all-my-own-i-pass-the-time-when-itis-wet-and/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) [Explore all 1,131 Michel de Montaigne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) ## More Beauty quotes > [We do not want nowadays temples of worship and outward rites and ceremonies. What we really want is an Asram. We want a place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/we-do-not-want-nowadays-temples-of-worship-and-outward-rites-and/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [How could anybody confuse truth with beauty, I thought as I looked at him. Truth came with sunken eyes, bony or scarred, decayed. Its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-fitch/how-could-anybody-confuse-truth-with-beauty-i-thought-as-i-looked-at/) [Janet Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-fitch/) > [A thing of beauty is a joy for ever;It's loveliness increase;it will never pass into nothingness;but still will keep a bower quiet for us,and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/a-thing-of-beauty-is-a-joy-for-ever-it-s-loveliness-increase-it-will/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [To fathom the power, to witness the beauty, to bathe in the fountain, to swing on the spiral of our divinity, and still be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tool/to-fathom-the-power-to-witness-the-beauty-to-bathe-in-the-fountain-to/) [Tool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tool/) > [The term "black metal" has become a lot looser, or can include a larger range of sounds and extra-musical aesthetics, not just Satan and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-marston/the-term-black-metal-has-become-a-lot-looser-or-can-include-a-larger/) [Colin Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-marston/) > [“We've all met people who are beautiful on the outside, however, when they open their mouths to speak, they have nothing of substance to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/we-ve-all-met-people-who-are-beautiful-on-the-outside-however-when/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [There are various orders of beauty, causing men to make fools of themselves in various styles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/there-are-various-orders-of-beauty-causing-men-to-make-fools-of/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [To me, the beauty of a quilt or a dress lies within the stitches and the thought of the person who made them. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie/to-me-the-beauty-of-a-quilt-or-a-dress-lies-within-the-stitches-and/) [Natalie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie/) > [“do not misunderstand person by beauty You really do not know its real or Mask on dirty thoughts”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-zaki-ansari/do-not-misunderstand-person-by-beauty-you-really-do-not-know-its-real/) [Mohammed Zaki Ansari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-zaki-ansari/) > [“I already love in you your beauty, but I am only beginning to love in you that which is eternal and ever precious –…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/i-already-love-in-you-your-beauty-but-i-am-only-beginning-to-love-in/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [The more perfect the sight is the more delightful the beautiful object. The more perfect the appetite, the sweeter the food. The more musical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/the-more-perfect-the-sight-is-the-more-delightful-the-beautiful/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [Call her beautiful a million times and she won't believe you. Call her ugly once, and she will never forget it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tumblr/call-her-beautiful-a-million-times-and-she-won-t-believe-you-call-her/) Tumblr > [Time can but make her beauty over again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/time-can-but-make-her-beauty-over-again/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [ The social \[media channel\] isn't about beauty contests and popularity contests. They're a distortion, a caricature of the real thing. It's about trust, connection,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umair-haque/the-social-media-channel-isn-t-about-beauty-contests-and-popularity/) [Umair Haque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umair-haque/) > [“What about you? What do you do?” I needed to ask questions, draw him out. I needed to find out all the information I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-avery-ellison/what-about-you-what-do-you-do-i-needed-to-ask-questions-draw-him-out/) [Kate Avery Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-avery-ellison/) [Browse all 24,662 Beauty quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beauty/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We call comeliness a mischance in the first respect, which belongs principally to the face.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michel de Montaigne" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/we-call-comeliness-a-mischance-in-the-first-respect-which-belongs/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Beauty" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/we-call-comeliness-a-mischance-in-the-first-respect-which-belongs/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d4/michel-de-montaigne-142_beauty_we-call-comeliness-a-mischance-in-the-fi_1211543.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d4/michel-de-montaigne-142_beauty_we-call-comeliness-a-mischance-in-the-fi_1211543.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d4/michel-de-montaigne-142_beauty_we-call-comeliness-a-mischance-in-the-fi_1211543.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We call comeliness a mischance in the first respect, which belongs principally to the face.” — Michel de Montaigne", "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": "Michel de Montaigne", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We call comeliness a mischance in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/we-call-comeliness-a-mischance-in-the-first-respect-which-belongs/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/we-call-comeliness-a-mischance-in-the-first-respect-which-belongs/#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 } } ] } ```