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About this quote

What does it mean?
A young face appears very calm and still, like a lake, but a woman's features only begin to develop fully around thirty.
In plain terms
Youthful faces seem calm, but women's features mature around thirty.
What can you take from it?
Do not judge maturity solely by youthful appearance.

Where it applies

  • dating
  • career assessment
  • social interactions

Putting it to work

  • look beyond looks
  • value experience over looks

Questions to consider

  • What does true maturity look like?
  • How does age affect perception?

Another view

Physical appearance can be misleading about inner maturity.

More from Honore de Balzac

  1. Mais la raison est toujours mesquine aupres du sentiment; l'une est naturellement bornee, comme tout ce qui est positif, et l'autre est infini.

    Permalink to quote #126
  2. Friendships last when each friend thinks he has a slight superiority over the other.

    Permalink to quote #128
  3. Les femmes tiennent et doivent toutes tenir a etre honorees, car sans l'estime elles n'existent plus. Aussi est-ce le premier sentiment qu'elles demandent a l'…

    Permalink to quote #125

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