Trust a girl of sixteen for knowing well if she is pretty; concerning her plainness she may be ignorant.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Young women are aware of their beauty but may not recognize their plainness.
- In plain terms
- Sixteen-year-olds know when they are pretty but not when they are plain.
- What can you take from it?
- Self-perception is biased by confidence.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How honest are we about appearance?
- Why do we focus on beauty?
Another view
Teenagers may also be painfully aware of flaws.
More from Elizabeth Gaskell
Were all men equal to-night, some would get the start by rising an hour earlier to-morrow.
Permalink to quote #2 A wise parent humours the desire for independent action, so as to become the friend and adviser when his absolute rule shall cease.
Permalink to quote #3 That kind of patriotism which consists in hating all other nations.
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