ON SMILES
B) On Smiles
A.G. Gardiner
- Rare
Exceptional Smiles: The text begins by stating that truly remarkable
and exceptional smiles are quite rare. Most people's smiles don't add much
to their self-expression.
- Reflecting
Inner Feelings: The text notes that smiles often reflect a person's
true emotions. If someone is dull, sinister, or smug, their smiles tend to
mirror those feelings.
- Influence
of Character: The text suggests that smiles are influenced by one's
character. For instance, if a person is born with a sneering disposition,
their smile is likely to be a sneer.
- Memorable
Smiles: The text mentions that only rarely do people have smiles that
are truly memorable and reveal something unique or extraordinary about
them.
- Examples
of Notable Smiles:
- Harry
Lauder's smile is described as abundant and capable of bringing happiness
to others.
- Lord
Balfour's smile is sweet, childlike, and charming but may seem somewhat
insincere or detached from his true self.
- Mr.
Birrell's smile is characterized as both good-humored and sardonic, capable
of brightening the atmosphere.
- Quality
of the Unexpected: The text emphasizes that the most memorable smiles
are those that come unexpectedly. A habitual smile, which suggests
calculation or policy, is less pleasing because the essence of a smile is
its spontaneity.
- Archbishop
Temple's Dislike: The text references Archbishop Temple's dislike for
people who are always smiling, highlighting the idea that perpetual smiles
can be seen as insincere or artificial.
- The
Melancholic Extreme: The text contrasts the perpetual smile with the
extreme opposite—people who rarely smile, exemplified by Philip II, who is
said to have laughed only once upon hearing about a massacre.
- The
Power of Unexpected Smiles: The text asserts that the smiles that have
the greatest impact are those that break suddenly and unexpectedly, like
sunshine from an unforeseen source.
- Examples
of Unexpected Smiles:
- Lord
Morley's smile is described as wistful and capable of softening his
typically stern demeanor.
- Pianist
Frederic Lamond's smile is particularly intense, as he appears incredibly
serious during his performances. However, when he smiles after a
performance, it is a sudden and joyous transformation.
- Smiles Are Inborn: The text suggests that it is futile for those with ordinary or unremarkable smiles to try to fake an extraordinary one. True smiles are innate, representing one's inner spirit and cannot be manufactured.
In summary, the text discusses the rarity of exceptional
smiles, their reflection of a person's character, the power of unexpected
smiles, and the authenticity of smiles as a reflection of one's true self. It
also provides various examples to illustrate these points.
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