--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: An example I often use to illustrate the…" description: "\"An example I often use to illustrate the reality of vanity, is this: look at the peacock; it's beautiful if you look at it from the front. But if you l..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/pope-francis-85_beautiful_an-example-i-often-use-to-illustrate-the_1203279.png" --- # An example I often use to illustrate the reality of… ![“An example I often use to illustrate the reality of vanity, is this: look at the peacock; it's beautiful if you look at it from the front. But if you look at it from behind, you discover the truth... Whoever gives in to such self-absorbed vanity has huge misery hiding inside them.” quote by Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/pope-francis-85_beautiful_an-example-i-often-use-to-illustrate-the_1203279.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/pope-francis-85_beautiful_an-example-i-often-use-to-illustrate-the_1203279.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/pope-francis-85_beautiful_an-example-i-often-use-to-illustrate-the_1203279.png) > “An example I often use to illustrate the reality of vanity, is this: look at the peacock; it's beautiful if you look at it from the front. But if you look at it from behind, you discover the truth... Whoever gives in to such self-absorbed vanity has huge misery hiding inside them.” [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Vanity looks attractive from the front but reveals emptiness when examined fully; it hides deep misery. **In simple terms:** Vanity is a false front that conceals inner suffering. Key Takeaway Recognize and avoid superficial pride. Themes vanity self‑deception humility inner truth Mood reflective serious spiritual Type sermon teaching When to use this quote - social media - leadership roles - public speaking - personal relationships - career advancement Key Concepts pride self‑image spiritual health Questions to Reflect On - What aspects of your life hide true feelings? - How can you cultivate genuine humility? A Different Perspective Vanity can be socially rewarded, making humility difficult. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absorbed Vanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absorbed-vanity-3617994/) [Beautiful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beautiful/) [Behind you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behind-you/) [Behinds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behinds/) [Example](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/example/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Hiding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hiding/) [Huge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/huge/) [Illustrate Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illustrate-reality-3617995/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Misery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misery/) [Peacock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peacock/) [Pride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pride/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Reality Vanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality-vanity-3617993/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self absorbed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-absorbed/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Vanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vanity/) [Vanity Huge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vanity-huge-3617996/) [Vanity Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vanity-look-761499/) ## Related quotes > [It's not vanity, because if you look weird, it will distract from what your trying to do. If you look as good as you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/it-s-not-vanity-because-if-you-look-weird-it-will-distract-from-what/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) > [All is vanity, look you; and so the preacher is vanity too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/all-is-vanity-look-you-and-so-the-preacher-is-vanity-too/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [Many a peacock hides his peacock tail from all eyes--and calls it his pride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/many-a-peacock-hides-his-peacock-tail-from-all-eyes-and-calls-it-his/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“I'm a peacock Captain! 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My hair was naturally quite afro, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-mccrory/music-really-influenced-me-when-i-was-growing-up-i-did-go-through-a/) [Helen McCrory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-mccrory/) > [Quinquireme of Nineveh from distant Ophir, Rowing home to haven in sunny Palestine, With a cargo of ivory, And apes and peacocks, Sandalwood, cedarwood,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-masefield/quinquireme-of-nineveh-from-distant-ophir-rowing-home-to-haven-in/) [John Masefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-masefield/) > [Genius and virtue are to be more often found clothed in gray than in peacock bright.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-wyck-brooks/genius-and-virtue-are-to-be-more-often-found-clothed-in-gray-than-in/) [Van Wyck Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-wyck-brooks/) > [“Being a peacock is not the only way to hide yourself, Frida. A pigeon can hide.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/being-a-peacock-is-not-the-only-way-to-hide-yourself-frida-a-pigeon/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [“Have you ever danced like a peacock with all of your style, beauty and charm?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/have-you-ever-danced-like-a-peacock-with-all-of-your-style-beauty-and/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [“Till the last moment they dress a man up in peacock's feathers, till the last moment they hope for the good and not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/till-the-last-moment-they-dress-a-man-up-in-peacock-s-feathers-till/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [When the peacock has presented his back, the spectator will usually begin to walk around him to get a front view; but the peacock…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/when-the-peacock-has-presented-his-back-the-spectator-will-usually/) [Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/) > [“For after all, if the lives of most men are examined in detail, it will be found that they have been experts of immense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wolfe/for-after-all-if-the-lives-of-most-men-are-examined-in-detail-it-will/) [Gene Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wolfe/) ## More by Pope Francis > [God reveals Himself through surprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/god-reveals-himself-through-surprises/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [God’s faithfulness is stronger than our unfaithfulness and our infidelities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/god-s-faithfulness-is-stronger-than-our-unfaithfulness-and-our/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Have the courage to go against the tide of current values that do not conform to the path of Jesus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/have-the-courage-to-go-against-the-tide-of-current-values-that-do-not/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“Most people nowadays would not consider love as related in any way to truth. 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Please join me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-pray-every-day-for-all-who-are-suffering-in-iraq-please-join-me/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [I entrust this Twenty-second World Day of the Sick to the intercession of Mary. I ask her to help the sick to bear their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-entrust-this-twenty-second-world-day-of-the-sick-to-the/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Certain realities in life are only seen through eyes that are cleansed through our tears. Let us learn how to weep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/certain-realities-in-life-are-only-seen-through-eyes-that-are/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) [Explore all 1,479 Pope Francis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) ## More Beautiful quotes > [I received a beautiful welcome to the world of music. 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