The Quote Garden ™

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Est. 1998
Quotations about Smiles
You cannot smile too often. Gladness is the sunshine of life. ~Ouina (Cora L. V. Scott Richmond), given through her Medium "Water Lily," "Sunbeams for My Flowers," Ouina's Canoe, 1882
The thing that goes the farthest toward making life worth while,
That costs the least, and does the most, is just a pleasant smile.
~Wilbur D. Nesbit, c.1900
When Milly smiled it was a public event — when she didn't it was a chapter of history. ~Henry James, The Wings of the Dove, 1902
Wrinkles should merely indicate where the smiles have been. ~Mark Twain, Following the Equator, 1897
Wrinkles are fossil smiles. ~"Poor Richard Junior's Philosophy," The Saturday Evening Post, 1903, George Horace Lorimer, editor
What a snapshot is to your life, your life is to eternity, so wouldn't it be nice if eternity captured you smiling? ~Robert Brault, rbrault.blogspot.com
A smile is as good as a prayer... ~Abigail May Alcott
A Smile that is open and pure and free,
Is Man's greatest blessing, it seems to me,
It carries solace to the troubled heart,
And a joyous message doth it impart.
It tenders sympathy in times of need,
And offers encouragement when you don't succeed;
And Failure never can have so bitter a sting,
If you Smile in the face of everything.
~Elon Allan Richards, "A Smile," The Poet Man, Et Cetera, 1913
A bright cheery smile often gives us the strength
That we lack in the vertex of strife,
For it lightens our load, as we travel the length
Of the care-laden path we call life.
~W. Dayton Wegefarth (1885–1973), "The Bright Things of Life"
The robb'd that smiles steals something from the thief... ~William Shakespeare, Othello, c.1604 [I, 3, Duke of Venice]
One of my most delightful remembrances is of an occasional glimpse of Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes upon the street... He seemed to be one animated smile from the crown of his head to the soles of his feet. The smile seemed to be there always as a bearing. It was a smile in repose. There was no grin, that horrible mockery of a smile. It was the deep, genuine, simple revelation of the heart of a child which he was able to keep through all the serious work of a man's life. ~S. S. Curry, The Smile: If You Can Do Nothing Else You Can Smile, 1915
Today, give a stranger one of your smiles. It might be the only sunshine he sees all day. ~H. Jackson Brown, Jr.'s mother, quoted in his book P.S. I Love You, 1990
Simple as a smile is, it reveals some of the deepest feelings of the human heart. A smile is a recognition of our own individuality, a joyous realization of our identity; it manifests the attitude of our being toward our fellow-men, toward life and all things. It means sympathy, love, joy, fellowship, willingness to receive as well as willingness to give that which is good. ~S. S. Curry, The Smile: If You Can Do Nothing Else You Can Smile, 1915
A pleasant smile is the password to welcome and friendship — from your superior, your equal or your inferior in rank. No one likes a grouch or a crepehanger, or wants him around if they can help it. ~C.A. Morse, "President's Address," Twentieth Annual Convention of the American Railway Engineering Association, 1919 March 18th
Smile, I say, not smirkle—
Mouth a semicircle,
That's the proper style.
~Lewis Carroll, "Little Birds," 1889
Elizabeth managed a ghost of a smile. ~Frances Frost, Uncle Snowball, 1940
This little ghost of a smile got into her heart and haunted her... ~Mabel Collins, In the Flower of Her Youth, 1883
What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. Scattered along life's pathway, the good they do is inconceivable. A smile, accompanied by a kind word, has been known to reclaim a poor outcast and change the whole current of a human life. ~The Family Herald, 1872
Of all life's blessings, none are cheaper or more easily dispensed than smiles. Let us not, then, be too chary of them, but scatter them freely as we go; for life is too short to be frowned away. ~Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 1873
"Yes." Simply yes, said calmly and with a smile that did not fade from her lips; a smile that lit her face from within like fire in the heart of an opal. ~"Through the Valley," Arthur's Illustrated Home Magazine, 1878
Every scowling face also contains the shapes of engaging smiles, just waiting to be released. ~Dr. SunWolf, professorsunwolf.com
Her loveliness I never knew
Until she smil'd on me;
Oh! then I saw her eye was bright,
A well of love, a spring of light.
~Hartley Coleridge (1796–1849)
Sometimes it's just enough to smile sincerely. ~Mike Dolan, @HawaiianLife, tweet, 2012
A wink is a little piece of your heart, a type of smile, a special link. ~J.L.W. Brooks
How slight a nod it would take, how bare a smile, to give everyone you meet today a sense of worth. ~Robert Brault, rbrault.blogspot.com
A smile vanquishes loneliness, if only for a fleeting moment. ~Terri Guillemets
Mary was wearing his blue quilted jacket and her soft grey hair had been freshly brushed and her smile turned his heart upside down. ~Frances Frost, Uncle Snowball, 1940
Beauty is power: a smile is its sword. ~Charles Reade, White Lies, 1857
Smile awhile,
And while you smile,
Another smiles,
And soon there's miles
And miles of smiles,
And life's worth while
Because you smile.
~Author unknown, c.1900
The teeth are smiling, but is the heart? ~African proverb
[A] smile is hovering about her lips, as if some playful speech were awaiting the right hearer. ~George Eliot, "Another Love-Scene," The Mill on the Floss, 1860
The world always looks brighter from behind a smile. ~The International Good Templar, 1916
Before you put on a frown, my friend, make absolutely certain there are no smiles available. ~Jim Beggs, To a Friend: Sunny Thoughts for Monday Moods, 1989
When you smile on those who are sad, the angels open the door of heaven and let the sunbeams through. ~Ouina (Cora L. V. Scott Richmond), given through her Medium "Water Lily," Ouina's Canoe, 1882
There's something you and I can give
To others every day we live…
It never costs us one thin dime
Yet we can share it all the time.
The world is hungry for this gift
That gives each weary one a lift.
A perfect touch, always in style:
It's just a wrm and friendly smile.
~William Arthur Ward (1921–1994)
The smiles of angels are tender as morning twilight. ~Ouina (Cora L. V. Scott Richmond), given through her Medium "Water Lily," Ouina's Canoe, 1882
So — smile away! Folks understand what by a smile is meant;
It's worth a million dollars — and it doesn't cost a cent.
~Wilbur D. Nesbit, c.1900
[W]ho ever saw a smiling face that was not beautiful? ~William Hepworth Dixon, "Pious Courtship," Spiritual Wives, 1868
A smile is the best defense against this offensive world. ~Terri Guillemets
Wear a smile and have friends, wear a scowl and have wrinkles. ~F.O. Hamilton, 1938 [quoteinvestigator.com]
Smile — sunshine is good for your teeth. ~Ludlow Porch, 1981
By contorting the face epidermis,
Or skin, or whatever the term is,
We express or display
Pride, joy or dismay —
The expression's wherever the squirm is.
The smile is produced by the upward squirm. It is induced by miscellaneous emotions and is a mild form of spontaneous combustion. It is a pleasing recration and may be used as a morning exercise, when not indulged in to excess. ~Anthony Euwer, "The Expression," The Limeratomy, 1917
No matter how grouchy you're feeling,
You'll find the smile more or less healing.
It grows in a wreath
All around the front teeth—
Thus preserving the face from congealing.
~Anthony Euwer, "The Smile," The Limeratomy, 1917
Whatever misfortune may seem to come to you, smile on. If some great danger seems to come up before you, meet it with a smile. A smile is the truest road to victory. ~S. S. Curry, The Smile: If You Can Do Nothing Else You Can Smile, 1915
A friendly word that's kindly spoken is just as cheap as one that's cross, and it may brace some pilgrim broken, who finds this life a total loss. It doesn't cost a copper penny to say, "Good morning, how d'ye do?" And it may mean a lot to many, and set their faces smiling, too. The smiles we wear are inexpensive, yet keep the world in better shape; their influence is so extensive it can't be measured with a tape. The kind and friendly words we scatter, with love of mankind in our tones, may well survive the wreck of matter, the crash of dynasties and thrones. And so I greet my fellow mortals with leaded smiles of thirteen ems, and do as much, perhaps, with chortles, as rich men do with gold and gems. The plan is old; man inter-glacial no doubt was vaguely on its track, and learned that his expression facial helped things along, or set them back. And still we must be pleading, urging, along this line till time is done, that men may be from gloom emerging, to take their places in the sun. ~Walt Mason (1862–1939), "The Kind Word"
How easy it is for one benevolent being to diffuse pleasure around him; and how truly is a kind heart a fountain of gladness, making everything in its vicinity freshen into smiles! the joyous disposition of the worthy squire was perfectly contagious; he was happy himself, and disposed to make all the world happy; and the little eccentricities of his humor did but season, in a manner, the sweetness of his philanthropy. ~Washington Irving, "The Christmas Dinner," The Sketch-Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent.
Smile with your lips, smile with your eyes, smile with your heart and your soul and your life. ~Terri Guillemets
He looked up at her then and smiled. The smile lighted up his face and gave it a kind of sweetness she didn't know could come into so grave a face. ~Cid Ricketts Sumner, Tammy Out of Time, 1958
Is a smile a question? Or is it the answer? ~Lee Smith
This smile isn't a lack of pain. It's a victory gesture of not letting pain defeat me. ~Terri Guillemets
I have a tickle in my brain. And it keeps making the corners of my mouth point toward the heavens. ~Jeb Dickerson, 2009 tweet, @JebDickerson
A happy moment leaves a lingering smile. ~Lorraine Skylark, @Larked, 2009 entry to The Quote Garden create your own quote contest on Twitter, @quotegarden
A whine or frown or scowl or a grouch of any kind separates one from men and God. A smile on the contrary expresses sympathy. By a smile one comes into touch with others. In its very nature a smile is a recognition of others, a sign of willingness to share the life of one's fellow-men. ~S. S. Curry, The Smile: If You Can Do Nothing Else You Can Smile, 1915
While we look up for guidance to Him, in whose hand is the disposal of every event, we have nought to fear. In poverty or riches, in life or in death, let us truly be His, for Whom no earthly power can separate us, and Whose smile can brighten the darkest lot. ~I. Hingston Wakeham, Una's Choice, 1873
...smiling himself by anticipation, it was his fate to draw from the lady a more exquisite smile than the last. Smile the second made his heart beat so he could feel it against his waistcoat. ~Charles Reade, White Lies, 1857
The smile that flickers on baby's lips when he sleeps — does anybody know where it was born? Yes, there is a rumour that a young pale beam of crescent moon touched the edge of a vanishing autumn cloud, and there the smile was first born in the dream of a dew-washed morning — the smile that flickers on baby's lips when he sleeps. ~Rabindranath Tagore, The Crescent Moon: Child-Poems, 1913, translated from the original Bengali by the author
Smile. Have you ever noticed how easily puppies make human friends? Yet all they do is wag their tails and fall over. ~Walter Anderson, The Confidence Course, 1997
published 2000 Dec 23
revised 2021 Jan 23
last saved 2025 Jan 20
www.quotegarden.com/smiles.html
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