ProverbHuman NatureRussian origin

Не по хорошу мил, а по милу хорош (Ne po khoroshu mil, a po milu khorosh)

Meaning: We find people beautiful because we love them, not the reverse.

Literally: Not dear because handsome, but handsome because dear

Example: “Он не красавец, но для неё лучший. Не по хорошу мил, а по милу хорош.” — He's no beauty, but to her he's the best: beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Equivalents in English, French, Spanish, Japanese, German, and 5 more languages

  • English: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder
  • French: La beauté est dans l'œil de celui qui regarde (literally: Beauty is in the eye of the one who looks)
  • Spanish: La belleza está en los ojos del que mira (literally: Beauty is in the eyes of the one who looks)
  • Japanese: 蓼食う虫も好き好き (Tade kuu mushi mo sukizuki) (literally: Some bugs even prefer bitter knotweed)
  • German: Schönheit liegt im Auge des Betrachters (literally: Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder)
  • Italian: Non è bello quel che è bello, ma è bello quel che piace (literally: Beautiful isn't what's beautiful, but what pleases)
  • Portuguese: Quem o feio ama, bonito lhe parece (literally: Whoever loves the ugly finds it pretty)
  • Dutch: De schoonheid der vrijster ligt in 's vrijers oog (literally: A maiden's beauty lies in her suitor's eye)
  • Polish: Nie to ładne, co ładne, ale co się komu podoba (literally: Pretty isn't what's pretty, but what someone likes)
  • Chinese: 情人眼里出西施 (Qíngrén yǎn lǐ chū Xīshī) (literally: In a lover's eyes, Xi Shi appears)

Origin: A word play: not dear because handsome, but handsome because dear (мил).

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