"When you see a woman who can go nowhere without a staff of admirers, it is not so much because they think she is beautiful, it is because she has told them they are handsome"
- Jean Giraudoux
About this Quote
This quote by Jean Giraudoux, a French dramatist and also author, clarifies the suggestion that a lady that is constantly bordered by admirers is not always regarded as lovely by those admirers. Instead, it suggests that the lady has most likely overstated or pumped up the physical good looks of her admirers, in order to improve their self-confidence and make them feel preferable or desired.
Simply put, the quote implies that the lady is utilizing flattery as a tool to attract attention and also gain support, instead of depending entirely on her own natural elegance or charm. This can be viewed as a type of manipulation, as the female is essentially using the instabilities as well as needs of her admirers to obtain what she wants.
Generally, the quote speaks with the social dynamics of elegance and tourist attraction, highlighting the ways in which people may make use of different techniques to improve their own perceived desirability or influence over others.