Beauty Quotes

“As I have said, you have no reason to trust me, and an excellent reason not to.”
― Robin McKinley, Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast

“At least I was true. My intellectual abilities gave me a release, and an excuse. I shunned company because I preferred books; and the dreams I confided to my father were of becoming a scholar in good earnest, and going to University. It was unheard-of several shocked governesses were only too quick to tell me, when I spoke a little too boldly -- but my father nodded and smiled and said, 'We'll see.' Since I believed my father could do anything -- except of course make me pretty -- I worked and studied with passionate dedication, lived in hope, and avoided society and mirrors.”
― Robin McKinley, Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast

“I found that the only way I could control this sorrow was not to think of [it] at all, which was almost as painful as the loss itself.”
― Robin McKinley, Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast

“I said: "He cannot be so bad if he loves roses so much."
"But he is a Beast," said Father helplessly.
I saw that he was weakening, and wishing only to comfort him I said, "Cannot a Beast be tamed?”
― Robin McKinley, Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast

“Beauty: "You called me beautiful last night."
Beast: "You do not believe me then?"
Beauty: "Well - no. Any number of mirrors have told me otherwise."
Beast: "You will find no mirrors here, for I cannot bear them: nor any quiet water in ponds. And since I am the only one who sees you, why are you not then beautiful?”
― Robin McKinley, Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast

“Cannot a Beast be tamed?”
― Robin McKinley, Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast

“I smiled. "I understand now. But It doesn't matter and you needn't apologize. They have been very kind to me too. Even if we did differ a little about suitable dresses." He considered me a moment, a mischievous light creeping into his eyes, and said: "Was THAT the dress - that night you wouldn't come out of your room?"
I grinned and nodded, and we both laughed;”
― Robin McKinley, Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast

“The weak grey light that serves as harbinger of red and golden dawn faintly lit my window. I fumbled for a candle, found and lit it, and by its little light saw that the rose floating in the bowl was dying. It had already lost most of its petals, which floated on the water like tiny, un-seaworthy boats, deserted for safer craft.
"Dear God," I said. "I must go back at once.”
― Robin McKinley, Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast

“It was of grey stone, huge block set on block;but it caught the sunlight like a dolphin's back at dawn.”
― Robin McKinley, Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast

“The Beast turned back to me. I could look at him fairly steadily this time. After a moment he said harshly: “I am very ugly, am I not?”

“You are certainly, uh, very hairy,” I said.

“You are being polite,” he said.

“Well, yes,” I conceded. “But then you called me beautiful, last night.”

He made a noise somewhere between a roar and a bark, and after an anxious minute, I decided it was probably a laugh. “You do not believe me then?” he inquired.

“Well’—no,” I said, hesitantly, wondering if this might anger him. “Any number of mirrors have told me otherwise.”

“You will find no mirrors here,” he said, “for I cannot bear them: nor any quiet water in ponds. And since I am the only one who sees you, why are you not then beautiful?”
― Robin McKinley, Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast

“The rich smell of the rose was almost visible; I fancied it lent a rosy edge to the shadows cast by the firelight.”
― Robin McKinley, Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast

“And since I am the only one who sees you, why are you not then beautiful?”
― Robin McKinley, Beauty

“The tone of her voice said that she felt she was offering me silk thread to build a bridge across a ravine.”
― Robin McKinley, Beauty

“He cannot be so bad if he loves roses so much.”
― Robin McKinley, Beauty

“Would it help perhaps if I told you that, had your father returned to me alone, I would have sent him on his way unharmed?”

“You would!” I said; it was half a shriek. “You mean that I came here for nothing?”

A shadowy movement like the shaking of a great shaggy head. “No. Not what you would count as nothing. He would have returned to you, and you would have been glad, but you also would have been ashamed, because you had sent him, as you thought, to his death. Your shame would have grown until you came to hate the sight of your father, because he reminded you of a deed you hated, and hated yourself for. In time it would have ruined your peace and happiness, and at last your mind and heart.”
― Robin McKinley, Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast

“I don’t know where to begin.” “Begin in the middle and work outwards,” said Hope. “Don’t be stuffy.”
― Robin McKinley, Beauty

“I disliked promises on principle because my conscience made me keep them.”
― Robin McKinley, Beauty

“When spring came I dug up the garden and planted it, and weeded it, and prayed over it, and fidgeted; and almost three years of lying fallow had agreed with it, because it produced radishes the size of onions, potatoes the size of melons, and melons the size of small sheep. The herb border ran wild, and the air smelled wonderful.”
― Robin McKinley, Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast

“he followed me with his eyes as if I wore a black hood and carried an axe, and he was next in line.”
― Robin McKinley, Beauty

“And I am telling you the truth―you have the sort of mind that prefers to know things.”
― Robin McKinley, Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast

“You fidget yourself too much,' said the practical voice, but with sympathy.

'I can't help it. You know it's impossible.'

'It was made to be impossible,' the first voice said grimly. 'But you needn't give up on that account.”
― Robin McKinley, Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast

“There was something rather terrible about this young man's beauty, though I could not say just where the dreadfulness lay.
The hand on the bridle was clenched a little too tightly; the light in the eyes was a little too bright, as if the soul itself were burning.”
― Robin McKinley, Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast

“I don’t even know your name.” He smiled. “I’m afraid I no longer remember it. You will have to name me. Come; introduce me to your family. I am looking forward to meeting them.”
― Robin McKinley, Beauty

“He was a very useful bird, because he gave Grace and Hope and me something weaker than ourselves to worry over; and he sang as though he appreciated it.”
― Robin McKinley, Beauty

“As I came to know him better, the fear changed to pity, and then, almost, to sorrow; but I could not marry him, however much I came to dislike hurting him.”
― Robin McKinley, Beauty

“The herb border ran wild, and the air smelled wonderful; the breezes often stirred the piney, mossy smell of the forest with the sharp smell of herbs, mixed in the warm smell of fresh bread from the kitchen, and then flung the result over the meadow like a handful of new gold coins.”
― Robin McKinley, Beauty

“A tiny breeze searched his face as if discovering who and what he was.”
― Robin McKinley, Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast

“I want no presents from the Beast,” said Father. “Is he trying to buy us off? Let him take his rich gifts back, and leave us our girl.”

“Please, Father,” I said. “Think of them as presents from me. I’d like you to keep them, and think of me.” Father dropped his eyes, and reluctantly put out a hand and stroked the fur collar of his new jacket.

Ger sighed. “I still don’t understand—and I don’t like not understanding. It makes me feel like a child again”
― Robin McKinley, Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast

“I was not frightened, but I was ashamed. “I’m sorry,” I said.

The claws retreated, and his arm dropped. “Don’t be,” he said. “I don’t mind telling you.” He looked at me. “But perhaps you mind being told.”
― Robin McKinley, Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast

“You say that Beauty is your nickname?” he said after a moment. “What is your given name then?” “Honour,” I said. Something that might have been a smile exposed too many long white teeth. “I welcome Beauty and Honour both, then,” he said. “Indeed, I am very fortunate.”
― Robin McKinley, Beauty