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.
Conclusion: The text concludes by emphasizing that smiles are born, not made, and that they are a reflection of a person's inner self. Trying to create a fake smile is, in essence, an attempt to spread false information about one's feelings.

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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