Ask for an English saying

[Amy-Dalian-China]

Mr.Johnmg
Could you tell me how to say it (Distance makes beauty.)in Enlgish?

[Casiopea]

Could you give us more information? The only thing I can think of is Distance makes the heart grow fonder and Age before beauty.

[johnmg]

I think I know what you mean Amy-Dalian-ChinaAmy-Dalian-China but I don’t think we have an exact meaning. We do use a similar one though: “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.” As I said we don’t have a similar form of expression for distance.

[piousoul]

To the best of my Chinese knowledge, Amy tried to find an expression in English that indicates:

When we look at things, scenes, or even people at a distance, they appear more beautiful than they really are.

There seems to be a similar counterpart in English, and it's almost on the tip of my tongue, but I just couldn't utter it out.

[Red5]

Would rose coloured glasses work?

[queenbu]

All that glitters is not gold?

[piousoul]

Hi, friends,

Rose coloured glasses and all that glitters is not gold are all vivid and adorable expressions.


Yet, in our culture, we have a saying describing a mid-aged lady, and the following is my translation literally from the Chinese counterpart:

The lady who looks like a flower in bud in the distance is nothing but a withering flower at close sight.


My conjesture is that Amy's intention is specifically about a lady though it could refer to things, scenes, and any kinds of people.

[Miner49'er]

Perhaps;

Beautiful from afar but far from beautiful.