What is common to The Sphinx, Mona Lisa, Buddha, and Manmohan Singh? This quiz question could stump a few, but the answer of all things, is the title above.
Most people smile most of the time , which is a tribute to their goodness. Some smile incessantly, which makes them look silly and recognised as a permanent asker-for-favours person.
Some never smile at all—because they considered smiling as a letting down of the guard. But EVERYBODY gives the inscrutable smile at some time or other—when they smile but that smile has nothing to do with their inner feelings.
When do we give the inscrutable smiles? Mostly when you are not listening to what the other person is saying. Yet you are too polite to turn your face away. So you smile (some may say that is a vacuous smile) and think about more important things.
(see the central lady in black)
The other time is when you are in a crowd and hardly know anyone. Your smile can change instantly when someone recognises you and become a welcoming grin—or if not recognised, quickly change into a neutral expression. Most people in a crowd are actually in this mode and it is quite revealing to see the variety of these inscrutable smiles in these gatherings.
(See the lady in red behind the man in the bandana)
The inscrutable smile is very much in display in group photos of famous personalities among the background persons. Knowing fully well that the focus is on the star , others smile without interest but smile they do, otherwise they may fall into the bad books of the star.
(Note the lady in blue at the back)
Obviously the most inscrutable smiles come from actors when they are confronted by photographers at a social gathering. In a photo shoot they do everything that the photographer requires, but in these “free-shoot” situations, they give these inscrutable smiles and nothing else (i.e. when they are not arguing with or hitting them).
The law enforcers like policemen smile like that when they cop you on a blank morning for something which you have not done. the bank official gives that smile when you start arguing with them over their faulty services, and the doctor has to do so for most of his clinical patients, because he is not sure what news the XRay or blood count may give.
The animals of course are past masters at these. See the picture below.
In brief, do perfect the inscrutable smile. It will stand you in good stead!!!!!!
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