A face that never laughs betrays an evil heart.
A face that never laughs betrays an evil heart.
Meaning in plain English
The saying treats a face that never laughs as revealing an evil heart. It makes an adverse moral judgment from outward expression.
Example
A reader questions the leap from an unsmiling expression to a claim of evil rather than judging someone’s character that way.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
A responsible explanation identifies this inference as unreliable rather than endorsing it. People may not laugh for many reasons, and visible expression does not establish moral character. The supplied betrayal gloss describes a different saying and must not be substituted for these words or used to blame a person who was betrayed.
When to use it
Use it critically to examine an appearance-based moral stereotype.
Keep in mind
Not laughing proves neither evil nor guilt, and the supplied betrayal gloss is unrelated to this image.
Edsverb editorial interpretation · agent reviewed · 2026-10-05. This explains the saying; it does not establish its historical origin.
- Source
- Contributor-provided proverb reference
Supplied reference A; unit 920; PDF page 128
Reuse and collection notes ↗ - Attribution confidence
- traditional · supplied collection
Preserved as printed; independently unverified. - Historical coordinate
- Undated
No reliable date supplied by the collection. - Rights & edition
- Contributor-confirmed reuse permission
Translations and rights may differ elsewhere.
Provenance and licences ↗