--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What would it be like to live as a…" description: "\"“What would it be like to live as a butterfly, being admired by the world for your color and beauty and grace? What would it be like to live as a spide..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f63/richelle-e-goodrich-180_appearance_what-would-it-be-like-to-live-as-a-butte_1064928.jpg" --- # What would it be like to live as a butterfly, being… ![“What would it be like to live as a butterfly, being admired by the world for your color and beauty and grace? What would it be like to live as a spider, having people shriek and jump and throw a shoe at the very notice of you? I have tasted both―looks of desire and repulsion. How sad it is that we…” quote by Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f63/richelle-e-goodrich-180_appearance_what-would-it-be-like-to-live-as-a-butte_1064928.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f63/richelle-e-goodrich-180_appearance_what-would-it-be-like-to-live-as-a-butte_1064928.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f63/richelle-e-goodrich-180_appearance_what-would-it-be-like-to-live-as-a-butte_1064928.jpg) > ““What would it be like to live as a butterfly, being admired by the world for your color and beauty and grace? What would it be like to live as a spider, having people shriek and jump and throw a shoe at the very notice of you? I have tasted both―looks of desire and repulsion. How sad it is that we judge a life by such a trivial thing as appearance.”” [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Society judges worth by appearance, ignoring deeper value; both admiration and revulsion are superficial. **In simple terms:** Looks are superficial. Key Takeaway Look beyond appearances. Themes appearance judgment identity Mood critical insightful Type social philosophical When to use this quote - social media - job interviews - first impressions - personal branding Key Concepts sociology philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How do you value inner qualities? - What role does appearance play in success? A Different Perspective Beauty standards can be empowering for some. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Appearances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appearances/) [Beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beauty/) [Biases](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biases/) [Butterfly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/butterfly/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Nature of Beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-beauty/) [Repulsion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/repulsion/) [Richelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/richelle/) [Richelle-e-goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/richelle-e-goodrich/) [Richelle-goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/richelle-goodrich/) [Spider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spider/) ## Related quotes > [“While you judge me by my outward appearance I am silently doing the same to you, even though there's a ninety-percent chance that in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/while-you-judge-me-by-my-outward-appearance-i-am-silently-doing-the/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [ Anthropology has always struggled with an intense, fascinated repulsion towards its subject… \[The anthropologist\] submits himself to the exotic to confirm his own inner… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sontag/anthropology-has-always-struggled-with-an-intense-fascinated/) [Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/) > [Among the repulsions of atheism for me has been its drastic un-interestingness as an intellectual position. Where was the ingenuity, the ambiguity, the humanity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/among-the-repulsions-of-atheism-for-me-has-been-its-drastic-un/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [Love is always mutual and reflective. You may hate me, and if I want to love you, you repulse me. But if I persist,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/love-is-always-mutual-and-reflective-you-may-hate-me-and-if-i-want-to/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [The more one studies the harmony of music, and then studies human nature, how people agree and how they disagree, how there is attraction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazrat-inayat-khan/the-more-one-studies-the-harmony-of-music-and-then-studies-human/) [Hazrat Inayat Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazrat-inayat-khan/) > [Among the repulsions of atheism for me has been its drastic uninterestingness as an intellectual position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/among-the-repulsions-of-atheism-for-me-has-been-its-drastic/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [Suicide: It's so hard and at the same time so easy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/suicide-it-s-so-hard-and-at-the-same-time-so-easy/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Your mind is turbulent because you're filled with desires, frustrations. You want too many things. You are afraid of too many things. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/your-mind-is-turbulent-because-you-re-filled-with-desires/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [The satirist is prevented by repulsion from gaining a better knowledge of the world he is attracted to, yet he is forced by attraction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italo-calvino/the-satirist-is-prevented-by-repulsion-from-gaining-a-better/) [Italo Calvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italo-calvino/) > [Culture is the suggestion, from certain best thoughts, that a man has a range of affinities through which he can modulate the violence of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/culture-is-the-suggestion-from-certain-best-thoughts-that-a-man-has-a/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“The feeling of intense repulsion, which had begun to oppress and torture his heart while he was on his way to the old woman,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/the-feeling-of-intense-repulsion-which-had-begun-to-oppress-and/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [A man and a woman are new to one another throughout a life-time, in the rhythm of marriage that matches the rhythm of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-man-and-a-woman-are-new-to-one-another-throughout-a-life-time-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Even when your body does nothing, sin can be active in your mind. When your soul inwardly repulses the evil one's attack by means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-palamas/even-when-your-body-does-nothing-sin-can-be-active-in-your-mind-when/) [Gregory Palamas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-palamas/) > [All of my work is meant to evoke a whole bunch of different layers of discord between the attraction and repulsion that we feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-jordan/all-of-my-work-is-meant-to-evoke-a-whole-bunch-of-different-layers-of/) [Chris Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-jordan/) > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions; life is plurality, death is uniformity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their-2/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) ## More by Richelle E. Goodrich > [“Truth is, I’m generally happiest when it’s just me. It’s okay to be madly in love with yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/truth-is-i-m-generally-happiest-when-it-s-just-me-it-s-okay-to-be/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“As ofttimes as it rains on my little spot of earth, you'd think I'd grow accustomed to the gloom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/as-ofttimes-as-it-rains-on-my-little-spot-of-earth-you-d-think-i-d/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“Two powerful, little words I've learned to use when facing challenges, fears, and doubts— so what? ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/two-powerful-little-words-i-ve-learned-to-use-when-facing-challenges/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“ Happily-ever-afters don't come in happily-every-days . They are found at the end of challenges-ever-met, promises-ever-kept, and tears-ever-wept.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/happily-ever-afters-don-t-come-in-happily-every-days-they-are-found/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“Curiosity killed the cat, but not before teaching her that honey bees are not sweet, tweeting birds are slow to react, mice can serve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/curiosity-killed-the-cat-but-not-before-teaching-her-that-honey-bees/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“A session of boasting won't attract any real friends.  It will set you up on a pedestal, however, making you a clearer target.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/a-session-of-boasting-won-t-attract-any-real-friends-it-will-set-you/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“Memories of past. Heartaches of old. Courage of brass. Lessons of gold.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/memories-of-past-heartaches-of-old-courage-of-brass-lessons-of-gold/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“Mystery, why so attractive to me? You blind me with fear, place hope on my tongue, and with a cold kiss draw me forward.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/mystery-why-so-attractive-to-me-you-blind-me-with-fear-place-hope-on/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“It's amusing to me that we refer to people who live in their heads as detached, disturbed, or mad, when reality for anyone is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/it-s-amusing-to-me-that-we-refer-to-people-who-live-in-their-heads-as/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“Such a nasty bruise,” he says, staring straight into my eyes. I am stunned he can see it. Delicate to the touch and tender…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/such-a-nasty-bruise-he-says-staring-straight-into-my-eyes-i-am/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“You would think those who have endured unkindness would be kinder as a result, intent on sparing others the awful suffering they abhorred firsthand.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/you-would-think-those-who-have-endured-unkindness-would-be-kinder-as/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“While you judge me by my outward appearance I am silently doing the same to you, even though there's a ninety-percent chance that in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/while-you-judge-me-by-my-outward-appearance-i-am-silently-doing-the/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“You made a choice—a single choice. How neat to think you may have opened the door to a wondrous future without knowing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/you-made-a-choice-a-single-choice-how-neat-to-think-you-may-have/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“The key to valuing something is to lose it and then realize how rare it was—after which you pray like mad to regain what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/the-key-to-valuing-something-is-to-lose-it-and-then-realize-how-rare/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“Rather than critique people, try admiring God’s creative handiwork.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/rather-than-critique-people-try-admiring-god-s-creative-handiwork/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) [Explore all 987 Richelle E. Goodrich quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) ## More Appearance quotes > [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/) [Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [The essence of worldliness is exclusion of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-jacobsen/the-essence-of-worldliness-is-exclusion-of-god/) [Henry Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-jacobsen/) > [We must, however, note that what are usually called the high religions made their appearance within about twenty-five hundred years - most of them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-scott-latourette/we-must-however-note-that-what-are-usually-called-the-high-religions/) [Kenneth Scott Latourette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-scott-latourette/) > [First impressions are often the truest, as we find (not infrequently) to our cost, when we have been wheedled out of them by plausible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/first-impressions-are-often-the-truest-as-we-find-not-infrequently-to/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [The turning points of lives are not the great moments. The real crises are often concealed in occurrences so trivial in appearance that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-turning-points-of-lives-are-not-the-great-moments-the-real-crises/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [You can have a nice body, dress with the latest fashion. But if you don't have self-confidence sweetheart, forget about looking sexy, you can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/you-can-have-a-nice-body-dress-with-the-latest-fashion-but-if-you-don/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [I cannot be convinced that great artists are moralists. Art is first appearances, then meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/i-cannot-be-convinced-that-great-artists-are-moralists-art-is-first/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [So may the outward shows be least themselves; The world is still deceived with ornament.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/so-may-the-outward-shows-be-least-themselves-the-world-is-still/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We are one of many appearances of the thing called Life; we are not its perfect image, for it has no perfect image except…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loren-eiseley/we-are-one-of-many-appearances-of-the-thing-called-life-we-are-not/) [Loren Eiseley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loren-eiseley/) > [I'm OK with my appearance. I have made my peace with it after a long and frankly exhausting battle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-perkins/i-m-ok-with-my-appearance-i-have-made-my-peace-with-it-after-a-long/) [Sue Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-perkins/) > [There is no society or conversation to be kept up in the world without good-nature, or something which must bear its appearance and supply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/there-is-no-society-or-conversation-to-be-kept-up-in-the-world/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Appearance records are pretty special. Mine means a lot to me, not only because I love stats, but because it shows that I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-james/appearance-records-are-pretty-special-mine-means-a-lot-to-me-not-only/) [David James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-james/) > [Every man would fall in love with their voice, their lovely appearance, but no man would ever get past that. They'd never really know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-hocking/every-man-would-fall-in-love-with-their-voice-their-lovely-appearance/) [Amanda Hocking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-hocking/) > [I already know what things look like - I don't want description. People believe in appearances, and I don't believe in appearances at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duane-michals/i-already-know-what-things-look-like-i-don-t-want-description-people/) [Duane Michals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duane-michals/) Browse all 2,446 Appearance quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“What would it be like to live as a butterfly, being admired by the world for your color and beauty and grace? What would it be like to live as a spider, having people shriek and jump and throw a shoe at the very notice of you? I have tasted both―looks of desire and repulsion. 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