How we cite our quotes: (Tale.Page)
Quote #1
"Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who in this realm is the fairest of all?" (Snow White.181)
Because being the fairest of all is the most important thing. Oh, and it's worth killing for, too.
Quote #2
Meanwhile, the daughter that their mother, the queen, had brought into the world had grown to be a little girl. She had a kind heart and beautiful features and a gold star on her forehead. (The Twelve Brothers.33)
We don't know what's up with the gold star, but the beauty = goodness equation is pretty clear here.
Quote #3
[T]he rich man had a second wife, who brought along her two daughters. They had beautiful and fair features but nasty and wicked hearts. (Cinderella.79)
Someone can be beautiful but still evil, so watch out. Remember, things aren't always what they seem.
Quote #4
When he glimpsed the maiden's magnificent portrait, which glistened with gold and jewels, he fell to the ground unconscious. (Faithful Johannes.21)
Looks can kill in fairy tales (almost).
Quote #5
A poor widow lived all alone in a small cottage, and in front of this cottage was a garden with two rosebushes. One bore white roses and the other red. The widow had two children who looked like the rosebushes: one was called Snow White and the other Rose Red. (Snow White and Rose Red.475)
Don't ask us how people look like rosebushes. Stuff like that just happens in fairy tales. The description also sets up a contrast between the two titular characters, leading us to expect different behavior from them.
Quote #6
Nevertheless, the two oldest sons kept pestering the king until he set a third condition and proclaimed that whoever brought home the most beautiful woman would inherit the kingdom. (The Three Feathers.235)
Do we get a kingdom for bringing home a beautiful woman, too? Probably not. But then again, we don't live in the countryside of early modern Europe, so things look a bit different from where we stand.
Quote #7
Now, the king had a daughter who was just as beautiful as her dead mother, and she also had the same golden hair. When she was grown-up, the king looked at her one day and realized that her features were exactly the same as those of his dead wife. Suddenly he fell passionately in love with her and said to his councilors, "I'm going to marry my daughter, for she is the living image of my dead wife." (All Fur, 239)
(1) Creepy creepy creepy creepy. (2) Genetics in fairy tales seem to work, um, in interesting ways since people can grow up looking exactly like one parent. To be fair, it would be even creepier if she had, say, her dad's eyes.
Quote #8
The next morning Simpleton took the goose in his arm, set out, and did not bother himself about the three sisters who were stuck to the goose. They were compelled to run after him constantly, left and right, wherever his legs took him. In the middle of a field they came across the parson, and when he saw the procession, he said, "Shame on you, you naughty girls! Is that the right way to behave?" (The Golden Goose.237)
Sometimes appearances, whether truthful or deceptive, are just hilarious. It's a good reminder that in addition to their other social functions, fairy tales are meant to entertain.
Quote #9
The wedding day had been set, and the bride-to-be had already arrived, but because of her ugliness she had locked herself in her chamber and would not let anyone see her. (Maid Maleen.575)
Sucks to be ugly in a fairy tale. No seriously. It's really bad news.
Quote #10
Once again the fox implored him to shoot him dead and cut off his head and paws. This time the prince did it, and no sooner was it done than the fox turned into none other than the brother of the beautiful princess, who was finally released from a magic spell that had been cast over him. (The Golden Bird.204)
Appearances can be deceiving. Which is why it's important to be nice to everyone you meet in fairy tales.