"'You do not believe me then?' he inquired.

'Well--no,' I said, hesitantly, wondering if this might anger him. "Any number of mirrors have told me otherwise.'

'You will find no mirrors here,' he said, 'for I cannot bear them: nor any quiet water in ponds. And since I am the only one who sees you, why are you not then beautiful?'

'But--' I said, and Platonic principles rushed into my mouth so fast that they choked me silent. After a moment's reflection I decided against a treatise on the absolute . . . "

--"Beauty", by Robin McKinley