proverb · Words worth keeping
Lips however rosy must be fed.
Lips however rosy must be fed.
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
An attractive appearance does not remove ordinary needs. The rosy-lips image redirects attention from admiration to practical care, without making beauty a fault or defining a person only by appearance or dependency.
Example
A beautifully arranged festival display still needs someone to restock its information leaflets and keep the visitor route clear; admiration alone does not maintain it.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
The lips may be rosy, but the person still needs to be fed. The contrast interrupts an account that notices attractiveness while overlooking the ordinary requirements of living. Figuratively, praise or admiration cannot by itself supply the practical support a situation needs. This reading can be useful when an impressive presentation distracts from the work behind it. It should not reduce a person to their looks or turn care into something owed only to someone admired. Ordinary needs exist regardless of appearance. The proverb reminds the reader that an appealing surface and a practical requirement can be present together.
When to use it
Use it when appearance or praise is drawing attention away from a practical need.
Keep in mind
Practical care is not conditional on beauty; avoid objectifying people or treating ordinary needs as defects.
An interpretation of the words, not a claim about their earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- Date unknown
- Culture
- English