--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is quite edifying to hear women…" description: "\"“It is quite edifying to hear women speculate upon the worthlessness and the duration of beauty. But though virtue is a much finer thing, and those hap..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/539/william-makepeace-thackeray-74_beauty_it-is-quite-edifying-to-hear-women-specu_3000768.jpg" --- # It is quite edifying to hear women speculate upon the… ![“It is quite edifying to hear women speculate upon the worthlessness and the duration of beauty. But though virtue is a much finer thing, and those hapless creatures who suffer under the misfortune of good looks ought to be continually put in mind of the fate which awaits them; and though, very…” quote by William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/539/william-makepeace-thackeray-74_beauty_it-is-quite-edifying-to-hear-women-specu_3000768.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/539/william-makepeace-thackeray-74_beauty_it-is-quite-edifying-to-hear-women-specu_3000768.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/539/william-makepeace-thackeray-74_beauty_it-is-quite-edifying-to-hear-women-specu_3000768.jpg) > ““It is quite edifying to hear women speculate upon the worthlessness and the duration of beauty. But though virtue is a much finer thing, and those hapless creatures who suffer under the misfortune of good looks ought to be continually put in mind of the fate which awaits them; and though, very likely, the heroic female character which ladies admire is a more glorious and beautiful object than the kind, fresh, smiling, artless, tender little domestic goddess, whom men are inclined to worship—yet the latter and inferior sort of women must have this consolation—that the men do admire them after all; and that, in spite of all our kind friends' warnings and protests, we go on in our desperate error and folly,”” [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Women’s value is often judged by beauty, but virtue surpasses appearance; society’s worship of looks is misguided. **In simple terms:** Virtue outweighs beauty; society misplaces value. Key Takeaway Cultivate inner virtue over external appearance. Themes gender beauty virtue society feminism Mood critical thoughtful Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - personal development - media literacy - self‑esteem building - cultural analysis Key Concepts social critique ethical values Questions to Reflect On - How can we shift focus from looks to character? - What role does media play in reinforcing beauty standards? A Different Perspective Changing deep‑seated cultural norms is challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Admire Spite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/admire-spite-4762863/) [Beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beauty/) [Beauty Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beauty-virtue-463132/) [Female character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/female-character/) [Goddess Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goddess-men-4762862/) [Ladies Admire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ladies-admire-4762861/) [Women Consolation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women-consolation-4762864/) ## Related quotes > [Loveliest of women! heaven is in thy soul, Beauty and virtue shine forever round thee, Bright'ning each other! thou art all divine!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/loveliest-of-women-heaven-is-in-thy-soul-beauty-and-virtue-shine/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [The concept of physical beauty as a virtue is one of the dumbest, most pernicious and destructive ideas of the Western world, and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/the-concept-of-physical-beauty-as-a-virtue-is-one-of-the-dumbest-most/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [Beauty and virtue: the most kissable ass in the world is no guarantee of good intentions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/beauty-and-virtue-the-most-kissable-ass-in-the-world-is-no-guarantee/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [Beauty without virtue is like a rose without scent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/proverb/beauty-without-virtue-is-like-a-rose-without-scent/) [Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/proverb/) > [Not beauty, no, but virtue rais'd my fires, whose sacred flame did cherish chaste desires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-alexander-1st-earl-of-stirling/not-beauty-no-but-virtue-rais-d-my-fires-whose-sacred-flame-did/) [William Alexander, 1st Earl of Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-alexander-1st-earl-of-stirling/) > [For, when with beauty we can virtue join, We paint the semblance of a form divine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-prior/for-when-with-beauty-we-can-virtue-join-we-paint-the-semblance-of-a/) [Matthew Prior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-prior/) > [Beauty is the virtue of the body as virtue is the beauty of the soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/beauty-is-the-virtue-of-the-body-as-virtue-is-the-beauty-of-the-soul/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“Physical beauty will fade over time, but true beauty (virtue) is timeless.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-courtney/physical-beauty-will-fade-over-time-but-true-beauty-virtue-is-timeless/) [Vicki Courtney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-courtney/) > [ Let them (the wicked) see the beauty of virtue, and pine at having forsaken her. \[Lat., Virtutem videant, intabescantque relicta.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aulus-persius-flaccus/let-them-the-wicked-see-the-beauty-of-virtue-and-pine-at-having/) [Aulus Persius Flaccus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aulus-persius-flaccus/) > [If measure and symmetry are absent from any composition in any degree, ruin awaits both the ingredients and the composition... Measure and symmetry are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/if-measure-and-symmetry-are-absent-from-any-composition-in-any-degree/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [When I realised that what I do really well is play women who are tough and vulnerable, it was a moment of clarity. Many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-anne-moss/when-i-realised-that-what-i-do-really-well-is-play-women-who-are/) [Carrie-Anne Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-anne-moss/) > [I think it's the source material. 27 Dresses was a famous book, and Devil Wears Prada was also a wonderful book, so it's coming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bruckheimer/i-think-it-s-the-source-material-27-dresses-was-a-famous-book-and/) [Jerry Bruckheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bruckheimer/) > [I didn't grow up a huge fan of the Western genre because there was never a female character to relate to or look up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-bennett/i-didn-t-grow-up-a-huge-fan-of-the-western-genre-because-there-was/) [Haley Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-bennett/) > [I've always preferred drag roles, because typically I get better costumes and I've always felt more connected with the female characters in my favorite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jinkx-monsoon/i-ve-always-preferred-drag-roles-because-typically-i-get-better/) [Jinkx Monsoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jinkx-monsoon/) > [If you do a black character or a female character or an Asian character, then they aren't just that character. They represent that race…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-mcduffie/if-you-do-a-black-character-or-a-female-character-or-an-asian/) [Dwayne McDuffie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-mcduffie/) ## More by William Makepeace Thackeray > [“To those great geniuses now in petticoats, who shall write novels for the beloved reader's children, these men and things will be as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/to-those-great-geniuses-now-in-petticoats-who-shall-write-novels-for/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [When one fib becomes due as it were, you must forge another to take up the old acceptance; and so the stock of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/when-one-fib-becomes-due-as-it-were-you-must-forge-another-to-take-up/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [Let a man who has to make his fortune in life remember this maxim: Attacking is the only secret. 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Surely they can not separate from our consciousness, shall follow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/our-great-thoughts-our-great-affections-the-truths-of-our-life-never/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [Charming Alnaschar visions! it is the happy privilege of youth to construct you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/charming-alnaschar-visions-it-is-the-happy-privilege-of-youth-to/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [To see a young couple loving each other is no wonder; but to see an old couple loving each other is the best sight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/to-see-a-young-couple-loving-each-other-is-no-wonder-but-to-see-an/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [An immense percentage of snobs, I believe, is to be found in every rank of this mortal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/an-immense-percentage-of-snobs-i-believe-is-to-be-found-in-every-rank/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [Vanity is often the unseen spur.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/vanity-is-often-the-unseen-spur/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [A good laugh is sunshine in the house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/a-good-laugh-is-sunshine-in-the-house/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [Novelty has charms that our minds can hardly withstand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/novelty-has-charms-that-our-minds-can-hardly-withstand/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [“Picture to yourself, O fair young reader, a worldly, selfish, graceless, thankless, religionless old woman, writhing in pain and fear, and without her wig.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/picture-to-yourself-o-fair-young-reader-a-worldly-selfish-graceless/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [Certain opuscules, denominated 'Christmas Books,' with the ostensible intention of swelling the tide of exhilaration, or other expansive emotions, incident upon the exodus of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/certain-opuscules-denominated-christmas-books-with-the-ostensible/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) [Explore all 384 William Makepeace Thackeray quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "“It is quite edifying to hear women speculate upon the worthlessness and the duration of beauty. 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