"Adding sound to movies would be like putting lipstick on the Venus de Milo"

This quote by Mary Pickford is a metaphor that suggests that adding noise to films would be an unnecessary and superfluous addition. The Venus de Milo is a well-known ancient Greek sculpture of the goddess Aphrodite, and is extensively considered to be a masterpiece of classical sculpture. It is a timeless and renowned artwork that is appreciated for its beauty and simpleness. By comparing including sound to films to putting lipstick on the Venus de Milo, Pickford is suggesting that sound would be an unnecessary and even unsuitable addition to motion pictures, as it would detract from the charm and simpleness of the art kind. To put it simply, Pickford is recommending that noise would be an unneeded and even harmful addition to motion pictures.