Grace is always natural, though that does not prevent its being often used to hide a lie. The rude shocks and uncomfortably constraining influences of life disappear among graceful women and poetical men; they are the most deceptive beings in creation; distrust and doubt cannot stand before them; they create what they imagine; if they do not lie to others, they do to their own hearts; for illusion is their element, fiction their vocation, and pleasures in appearance their happiness. Beware of grace in woman, and poetry in man -- weapons the more dangerous because the least dreaded!

Summary

This quote suggests that grace, although usually considered as a natural and attractive quality, can sometimes be used to mask deceit. Despite their ability to captivate and charm, graceful women and poetic men can be deceptive and skilled at creating illusions. The quote warns against trusting them, as they may not only deceive others but also lie to themselves. Women with grace and men with poetic abilities are portrayed as dangerous simply because their enchanting qualities may make them less suspected of deception. This emphasizes the perception that appearances can be deceptive and should be approached cautiously.