# Quote — William Makepeace Thackeray, Vanity Fair

> What is there in a pair of pink cheeks and blue eyes forsooth? these dear moralists ask, and hint wisely that the gifts of genius, the accomplishments of the mind, the mastery of Mangnall’s Questions, and a ladylike knowledge of botany and geology, the knack of making poetry, the power of rattling sonatas in the Herz-manner, and so forth, are far more valuable endowments for a female, than those fugitive charms which a few years will inevitably tarnish. It is quite edifying to hear women speculate upon the worthlessness and the duration of beauty.

- Author: [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-makepeace-thackeray.md)
- Book: [Vanity Fair](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-makepeace-thackeray/vanity-fair.md)
- Page: 107
- Source: [Wikiquote](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Vanity_Fair_(novel)#Quotes) ([CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/))
- Quote page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-makepeace-thackeray/vanity-fair/what-is-there

## More from this book

> Like many wealthy people, it was Miss Crawley’s habit to accept as much service as she could get from her inferiors; and good-naturedly to take leave of them when she no longer found them useful. Gratitude among certain rich folks is scarcely natural or to be thought of. They take needy people’s services as their due. Nor have you, O poor parasite and humble hanger-on, much reason to complain! Your friendship for Dives is about as sincere as the return which it usually gets. It is money you love, and not the man; and were Croesus and his footman to change places, you know, you poor rogue, who would have the benefit of your allegiance.

p. 135 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-makepeace-thackeray/vanity-fair/like-many-wealthy.md)

> Them’s my sentiments.

p. 198 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-makepeace-thackeray/vanity-fair/thems-my-sentiments.md)

> Whenever he met a great man he grovelled before him, and my-lorded him as only a free-born Briton can do.

p. 125 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-makepeace-thackeray/vanity-fair/whenever-he-met.md)