"But you have no love for it in particular," said Alice, "I suppose you mean to say; that is just the way the matter is commonly disposed of. Every body is willing to acknowledge a general wish for the good opinion of others, but half the world are ashamed to own it when it comes to a particular case. Now I have made up my mind, that if it is correct in general, it is correct in particular; and I mean to own it both ways."
"But, somehow, it seems mean," said the little lady.
"It is mean to live for it, to be selfishly engrossed in it, but not mean to enjoy it when it comes, or even to seek it, if we neglect no higher interest in doing so. All that God made us to feel is dignified and pure, unless we pervert it."
"But, Alice, I never heard any person speak out so frankly as you do."
"Almost all that is innocent and natural may be spoken out; and as for that which is not innocent and natural, it ought not even to be thought."
"But can every thing be spoken that may be thought?" said the lady.
"No; we have an instinct which teaches us to be silent sometimes: but, if we speak at all, let it be in simplicity and sincerity."
"Now, for instance, Alice," said the lady, "it is very innocent and natural, as you say, to think this, that, and the other nice thing of yourself, especially when every body is telling you of it; now would you speak the truth if any one asked you on this point?"
"If it were a person who had a right to ask, and if it were a proper time and place, I would," said Alice.
"Well, then," said the bright lady, "I ask you, Alice, in this very proper time and place, do you think that you are handsome?"