“A compliment is something like a kiss through a veil.”
- February 26, 1802 – May 22, 1885
- Born in France
- Author, poet, playwright
- Written novels and poems such as “Les Miserables” and “Notre-Dame de Paris,” he was a representative figure of French Romantic literature and had a worldwide influence.
Quote
“A compliment is something like a kiss through a veil.”
Explanation
In this quote, Victor Hugo uses the metaphor of a kiss through a veil to describe a compliment as something that is delicate, indirect, and veiled in its true nature. A kiss through a veil is soft and distant—it doesn’t fully reveal the intimacy or depth of the gesture, just as a compliment may offer praise or flattery without fully expressing the genuine emotion or deeper affection behind it. A compliment can be seen as a way to show admiration or kindness, but it often remains a surface-level expression, like a kiss that is blocked by the veil, preventing full connection.
Hugo’s metaphor speaks to the artificiality and impersonal nature of compliments, which may not always carry the same emotional weight or sincerity as more direct forms of affection or communication. The compliment, like a kiss through a veil, may be pleasant or flattering, but it can also feel distant or lacking in authenticity, as it is separated from the true feelings it is meant to express.
In modern terms, this quote suggests that while compliments can be nice and serve as a social gesture, they are often not as meaningful or intimate as more genuine expressions of affection or love. It reminds us that true connection comes from more direct and sincere interactions, and that compliments, while flattering, are often only surface-level expressions of admiration.
