The ladies of St. James's! They're painted to the eyes; Their white it stays forever Their red it never dies: But Phillida, my Phillida! Her color comes and goes; It trembles to a lily,- It wavers to a rose.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Dobson contrasts artificial beauty (painted women) with natural, fleeting human beauty (Phillida).
- In plain terms
- Fake beauty lasts forever, but real beauty changes and fades naturally.
- What can you take from it?
- Natural beauty is fleeting and more appealing than artificial perfection.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What beauty do you value more?
Another view
It assumes artificial enhancements are inherently less desirable.
More from Henry Austin Dobson
Time goes, you say? Ah, no! Alas, Time stays, we go.
Permalink to quote #2
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