--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He hated his vanity, but it was a…" description: "\"“He hated his vanity, but it was a characteristic and nearly altogether unavoidable trait of the attractive. Perhaps it was self-preservation—simply hi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/510/molly-collier-33251_aging_he-hated-his-vanity-but-it-was-a-charact_2902754.jpg" --- # He hated his vanity, but it was a characteristic and… ![“He hated his vanity, but it was a characteristic and nearly altogether unavoidable trait of the attractive. Perhaps it was self-preservation—simply his body urging him to protect it and maintain its appeal. The world loved and scorned the decay of beauty; it gnashed its teeth for a scrap of any…” quote by Molly Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/510/molly-collier-33251_aging_he-hated-his-vanity-but-it-was-a-charact_2902754.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/510/molly-collier-33251_aging_he-hated-his-vanity-but-it-was-a-charact_2902754.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/510/molly-collier-33251_aging_he-hated-his-vanity-but-it-was-a-charact_2902754.jpg) > ““He hated his vanity, but it was a characteristic and nearly altogether unavoidable trait of the attractive. Perhaps it was self-preservation—simply his body urging him to protect it and maintain its appeal. The world loved and scorned the decay of beauty; it gnashed its teeth for a scrap of any withered thing, all the more if it had once been something lovely.”” [Molly Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-collier/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Vanity, though despised, is an almost unavoidable trait tied to self‑preservation; beauty’s decay is both scorned and coveted. **In simple terms:** Vanity is a complex survival trait. Key Takeaway Balance self‑care with humility. Themes beauty vanity survival societal standards Mood critical thoughtful Type psychological cultural When to use this quote - fashion - media - personal branding - healthcare Key Concepts self‑image psychology Questions to Reflect On - What drives your self‑image? - How can we value inner qualities over looks? A Different Perspective Obsessing over appearance can be harmful. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aging/) [Beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beauty/) [Self preservation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-preservation/) [Vanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vanity/) ## Related quotes > [The only D a girl should have is Dignity. Nothing more is attractive to me, than self-respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carniel-dunlop/the-only-d-a-girl-should-have-is-dignity-nothing-more-is-attractive/) [Carniel Dunlop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carniel-dunlop/) > [Being yourself doesn’t attract women... being your most attractive self, does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zan-perrion/being-yourself-doesn-t-attract-women-being-your-most-attractive-self/) [Zan Perrion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zan-perrion/) > [“The law of self-destruction and the law of self-preservation are equally strong in mankind!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/the-law-of-self-destruction-and-the-law-of-self-preservation-are/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [When a totally offensive tax hits a few million people, Washington is prepared to look the other way. But when everyone is harmed, self…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hassett/when-a-totally-offensive-tax-hits-a-few-million-people-washington-is/) [Kevin Hassett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hassett/) > [Do not spit into the well that you might need to drink out of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russian-proverb/do-not-spit-into-the-well-that-you-might-need-to-drink-out-of/) Russian Proverb > [“In times of turbulence in your life always know when it's time to throw up the gates and lock your heart and soul down.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-e-hudson/in-times-of-turbulence-in-your-life-always-know-when-it-s-time-to/) [Charles E Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-e-hudson/) > [Like all predatory or parasitic institutions, its first instinct is that of self-preservation. All its enterprises are directed first towards preserving its own life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/like-all-predatory-or-parasitic-institutions-its-first-instinct-is/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [I consider kissing her right there on the dirty couch, but self-preservation stops me. Once someone hurts you, it’s harder to relax around them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/i-consider-kissing-her-right-there-on-the-dirty-couch-but-self/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“The fundamental basis by which the court’s decision might be made is, in itself, imperfect and subject to contradictions. There is very little consideration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashim-shanker/the-fundamental-basis-by-which-the-court-s-decision-might-be-made-is/) [Ashim Shanker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashim-shanker/) > [“Self-preservation—this is your new focus. The only obligation of today is to preserve the breath of tomorrow. Then, once footing is regained, you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-talmage-mathis/self-preservation-this-is-your-new-focus-the-only-obligation-of-today/) [John-Talmage Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-talmage-mathis/) > [Two ideas are psychologically deep-rooted in man: self-protection and self-preservation. For self-protection man has created God, on whom he depends for his own protection,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walpola-rahula/two-ideas-are-psychologically-deep-rooted-in-man-self-protection-and/) [Walpola Rahula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walpola-rahula/) > [“People have a tendency of filtering their memories – exaggerate the positives and downplay their weaknesses and faults. Self-preservation will be another obstacle you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-lawrence/people-have-a-tendency-of-filtering-their-memories-exaggerate-the/) [Alexis Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-lawrence/) > [“He had all the self-preservation instincts of a bug near a shiny windshield.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-chance/he-had-all-the-self-preservation-instincts-of-a-bug-near-a-shiny/) [Karen Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-chance/) > [“With the courage of the soul, we don’t focus only on self-preservation, security, or safety; in fact, such courage compels us to risk our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-villoldo/with-the-courage-of-the-soul-we-don-t-focus-only-on-self-preservation/) [Alberto Villoldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-villoldo/) > [“What begins as a minor internal wobble becomes a cascade of relational failures. The chain is not broken until the individual stops looking to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-ravago/what-begins-as-a-minor-internal-wobble-becomes-a-cascade-of/) [E. Ravago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-ravago/) ## More by Molly Collier > [“She seemed to feed on their laughter, and they on her humor, like the lily of the pond—sustained by the very water it purified.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-collier/she-seemed-to-feed-on-their-laughter-and-they-on-her-humor-like-the/) [Molly Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-collier/) > [“Somewhere between love and pain was the feeling of a family that was missing one of its founding members.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-collier/somewhere-between-love-and-pain-was-the-feeling-of-a-family-that-was/) [Molly Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-collier/) > [“She hadn’t understood loss until it had laid her to waste, and she feared what would become of her when she was again without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-collier/she-hadn-t-understood-loss-until-it-had-laid-her-to-waste-and-she/) [Molly Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-collier/) > [“People are like the tall grasses of the field. They will bend in whatever direction the wind blows.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-collier/people-are-like-the-tall-grasses-of-the-field-they-will-bend-in/) [Molly Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-collier/) > [“People were so easy to predict if one only paid attention to their lips. Most people told their stories there without even needing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-collier/people-were-so-easy-to-predict-if-one-only-paid-attention-to-their/) [Molly Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-collier/) > [“Doha wasn’t a very good friend. But he was a good person. And he was a great engineer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-collier/doha-wasn-t-a-very-good-friend-but-he-was-a-good-person-and-he-was-a/) [Molly Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-collier/) > [“Idealism is the cradle for change. One cannot make something new without first envisioning the possibility.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-collier/idealism-is-the-cradle-for-change-one-cannot-make-something-new/) [Molly Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-collier/) > [“Even you cannot control your shine, my friend. This whole world is in your shadow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-collier/even-you-cannot-control-your-shine-my-friend-this-whole-world-is-in/) [Molly Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-collier/) > [“But the agony of her loss reminded her that every day was a gift, and the depth of her love reminded her of all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-collier/but-the-agony-of-her-loss-reminded-her-that-every-day-was-a-gift-and/) [Molly Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-collier/) > [“He looked distraught, though perhaps he always looked like that, given that he didn’t eat enough or sleep enough or witness sunlight anywhere other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-collier/he-looked-distraught-though-perhaps-he-always-looked-like-that-given/) [Molly Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-collier/) > [“Have faith even in the finite, my dear. Faith and science are but the hands and feet of miracles.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-collier/have-faith-even-in-the-finite-my-dear-faith-and-science-are-but-the/) [Molly Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-collier/) > [“In any friendship or partnership, there is always one that shines just a little bit brighter than the other. He doesn’t mean to, that’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-collier/in-any-friendship-or-partnership-there-is-always-one-that-shines-just/) [Molly Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-collier/) > [“Was it malice or stupidity? Doha had found that the motivation for most confusing attributes of other people could be classified into one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-collier/was-it-malice-or-stupidity-doha-had-found-that-the-motivation-for/) [Molly Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-collier/) > [“Oh, to be the spitting image of her father, or a younger version of her mother. She longed to carry those pieces of them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-collier/oh-to-be-the-spitting-image-of-her-father-or-a-younger-version-of-her/) [Molly Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-collier/) [Explore all 15 Molly Collier quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-collier/) ## More Aging quotes > [While we've youth in our hearts, we can never grow old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/while-we-ve-youth-in-our-hearts-we-can-never-grow-old/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [In the past 40 years, the United States lost more than a million farmers and ranchers. Many of our farmers are aging. Today, only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-vilsack/in-the-past-40-years-the-united-states-lost-more-than-a-million/) [Tom Vilsack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-vilsack/) > [We'll never be as young as we are tonight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/we-ll-never-be-as-young-as-we-are-tonight/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“Prayer of an Anonymous Abbess: Lord, thou knowest better than myself that I am growing older and will soon be old. Keep me from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/prayer-of-an-anonymous-abbess-lord-thou-knowest-better-than-myself/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The more I produce, the less I am certain. On the road along which the artist walks, night falls ever more densely. Finally, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/the-more-i-produce-the-less-i-am-certain-on-the-road-along-which-the/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [So often do you see collegians enter life with high resolve and lofty purpose and then watch them shrink and shrink to sordid, selfish,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-e-b-du-bois/so-often-do-you-see-collegians-enter-life-with-high-resolve-and-lofty/) [W. E. B. Du Bois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-e-b-du-bois/) > [Aging is like enlightenment at gunpoint. Before I had cancer, I lived my life for my art. After I had cancer, I lived my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-halprin/aging-is-like-enlightenment-at-gunpoint-before-i-had-cancer-i-lived/) [Anna Halprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-halprin/) > [All the dangers in our world are like a blessed wake up call. They tell us to live life NOW... not tomorrow, not when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jeffers/all-the-dangers-in-our-world-are-like-a-blessed-wake-up-call-they/) [Susan Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jeffers/) > [“You could see the signs of female aging as diseased, especially if you had a vested interest in making women too see them your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-wolf/you-could-see-the-signs-of-female-aging-as-diseased-especially-if-you/) [Naomi Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-wolf/) > [“It takes maturity to be able to laugh like a child again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moffat-machingura/it-takes-maturity-to-be-able-to-laugh-like-a-child-again/) [Moffat Machingura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moffat-machingura/) > [Seek ye counsel of the aged for their eyes have looked on the faces of the years and their ears have hardened to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/seek-ye-counsel-of-the-aged-for-their-eyes-have-looked-on-the-faces/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [Growing old-it's not nice, but it's interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/growing-old-it-s-not-nice-but-it-s-interesting/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) > [Anything is possible in the life of a man if he lives long enough. Even maturity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howell-raines/anything-is-possible-in-the-life-of-a-man-if-he-lives-long-enough/) [Howell Raines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howell-raines/) > [I just want to be Patty McCormack. I want to spend every year aging the way she has.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-varney/i-just-want-to-be-patty-mccormack-i-want-to-spend-every-year-aging/) [Janet Varney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-varney/) > [Maturity is reached the day we don't need to be lied to about anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-yerby/maturity-is-reached-the-day-we-don-t-need-to-be-lied-to-about-anything/) [Frank Yerby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-yerby/) [Browse all 2,792 Aging quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aging/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“He hated his vanity, but it was a characteristic and nearly altogether unavoidable trait of the attractive. 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