"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"

A woman perpetually surrounded by eager admirers may not owe her popularity solely to her own beauty or outward attributes. Rather, her magnetism lies in her power to make others feel valued and attractive in her presence. The passage reveals an insight into human nature: people are instinctively drawn to those who highlight their worth, feed their egos, and uplift their confidence. The woman achieves this effect not necessarily by seeking flattery for herself, but by skillfully directing genuine, or perhaps strategic, compliments to those around her.

The attention she receives is more a mirror reflecting the needs of her admirers than a testament to her own allure. Her words carry an implicit promise: being near her yields affirmation. Admired not just for who she is but for the way she makes others feel about themselves, she holds a subtle sway over her circle. The men who hover in her orbit may believe they are in pursuit of her supposed beauty, but deeper still, they are chasing the elation sparked by her praise. Her true power is her understanding of the human craving for validation, and her ability to satisfy that craving.

This observation also exposes a certain vanity and vulnerability in those who seek her company. While romantic notions might explain their devotion as infatuation or adoration, Giraudoux points to a more pragmatic, perhaps even cynical, psychological exchange. People gravitate toward places and individuals where they are esteemed, even if that esteem is artfully cultivated. The woman's influence arises from her generosity with compliments, her recognition of others' charms. She transforms the conventional dynamic; the center of attention is, in reality, the creator of attention, a subtle manipulator of desire who understands that the sincerest form of flattery is to flatter those who wish to be admired themselves.