--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The example cited most often was a…" description: "\"“The example cited most often was a gradual change in eye color among Moirans. Eve Moira’s eyes had been hazel: relatively light in color by the standa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df6/neal-stephenson-362_black-people_the-example-cited-most-often-was-a-gradu_1332520.jpg" --- # The example cited most often was a gradual change in eye… ![“The example cited most often was a gradual change in eye color among Moirans. Eve Moira’s eyes had been hazel: relatively light in color by the standards of black people, but not all that unusual. By the end of the Second Millennium, many Moirans had eyes so pale in color as to appear golden in…” quote by Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df6/neal-stephenson-362_black-people_the-example-cited-most-often-was-a-gradu_1332520.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df6/neal-stephenson-362_black-people_the-example-cited-most-often-was-a-gradu_1332520.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df6/neal-stephenson-362_black-people_the-example-cited-most-often-was-a-gradu_1332520.jpg) > ““The example cited most often was a gradual change in eye color among Moirans. Eve Moira’s eyes had been hazel: relatively light in color by the standards of black people, but not all that unusual. By the end of the Second Millennium, many Moirans had eyes so pale in color as to appear golden in strong light. On the walls of the Great Chain’s fashion stores, blown up to ten times life size, Moiran fashion models still gazed at you through shockingly yellow, catlike eyes. Because pale eyes had been a distinctive characteristic of Eve Moira, it had become thought of as beautiful and desirable, and Moirans with pale eyes had found it easier to mate and reproduce, intensifying the trait over time, to the point of caricature. Kath Two herself, no model, was frequently complimented on the lightness of her eyes, which were closer to green than yellow. But modern, appearance-conscious Moirans were frequently startled when they saw photographs of their Eve with her eyes that were merely greenish-brown.”” [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A cultural trait became exaggerated through selective preference, turning a natural variation into an extreme ideal. **In simple terms:** Selective breeding amplified a trait to a caricature. Key Takeaway Beware of idealizing traits without recognizing natural diversity. Themes beauty standards genetic drift culture Mood critical analytical Type cultural sociological When to use this quote - fashion industry - media representation - genetic selection - social norms Key Concepts sociology evolutionary biology Questions to Reflect On - How do media standards shape genetic preferences? - What are the risks of amplifying minor traits? A Different Perspective Idealization can lead to loss of authentic variation and potential health issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Black people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-people/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Color Moirans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/color-moirans-4476125/) [Eye color](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eye-color/) [Eyes Distinctive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eyes-distinctive-4476126/) [Life size](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-size/) [Moira Eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moira-eyes-4476127/) [Moirans Eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moirans-eyes-4476124/) [Moirans Pale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moirans-pale-4476128/) ## Related quotes > [I don't know if I've come of age, but I'm certainly older now. 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Because pale eyes had been a distinctive characteristic of Eve Moira, it had become thought of as beautiful and desirable, and Moirans with pale eyes had found it easier to mate and reproduce, intensifying the trait over time, to the point of caricature. Kath Two herself, no model, was frequently complimented on the lightness of her eyes, which were closer to green than yellow. 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