Sarah Stickney Ellis

Beauty depends more upon the movement of the face than upon the form of the features when at rest. Thus a countenance habitually under the influence of amiable feelings acquires a beauty of the highest order, from the frequency with which such feelings are the originating causes of the movement or expressions which stamp their character upon it.

Sarah Stickney Ellis (née Stickney; 1799 – 16 June 1872) was an English author. She was a Quaker turned Congregationalist. Her numerous books are mostly about women's roles in society. She argued that women had a religious duty as daughters, wives and mothers to provide an influence for good that would improve society.

Quotes

  • Those who live on vanity must not unreasonably expect to die of mortification.
    • The Pains of Pleasing, ch. 3; Pictures of Private Life, 2nd ser., 3rd ed. (London, 1835), p. 249
  • To act the part of a true friend requires more conscientious feeling than to fill with credit and complacency any other station or capacity in social life.
    • The Pains of Pleasing, ch. 4; Pictures of Private Life, 2nd ser., 3rd ed. (London, 1835), p. 251 [1]
  • Those who are accustomed to enlightened views on this subject, will know also that there are different kinds of personal beauty, amongst which, that of form and colouring holds a very inferior rank. There is a beauty of expression, for instance, of sweetness, of nobility, of intellectual refinement, of feeling, of animation, of meekness, of resignation, and many other kinds of beauty, which may all be allied to the plainest features, and yet may remain, to give pleasure long after the blooming cheek has faded, and silver gray has mingled with the hair. And how far more powerful in their influence upon others, are some of these kinds of beauty! for, after all, beauty depends more upon the movements of the face, than upon the form of the features when at rest; and thus, a countenance habitually under the influence of amiable feelings acquires a beauty of the highest order, from the frequency with which such feelings are the originating cause of the movements or expressions which stamp their character upon it.
  • Life is not all incident; it has its intervals of thought, as well as action—of feeling—of endurance; and in order to reflect, and profit by these, it is sometimes necessary to sit down as it were upon the sand-hills of the desert, and consider from what point in the horizon the journey has been made, or to what opening in the distance it is likely to lead.

See also

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