Quote by Leo Tolstoy
But the princess had never seen the beautiful expression of her eyes; the expression that came into them when she was not thinking of herself. As is the case with everyone, her face assumed an affected, unnatural, ugly expression as soon as she looked in the looking glass.
Summary
This quote highlights the contrast between the genuine beauty that resides in a person's eyes when they are not preoccupied with self-obsession versus the artificial, unattractive expression that emerges when they focus on their own appearance. It serves as a metaphor for the idea that true beauty lies beyond physical attributes and is best expressed when one is not self-absorbed or concerned with external validation. The quote suggests that the princess lacks self-awareness and genuine sincerity, as her reflection in the looking glass does not reflect the beauty present when she is not consumed by self-consciousness.
Topics
Beauty
By Leo Tolstoy