"The Smile" by Blake reflects the two-fold nature of human existence, as well as the duality between appearance and reality, by simultaneously revealing and concealing its inner meaning. Behind the finite interpersonal meanings of smiles and frowns, which ought not to mislead us about the totality comprised of positive and negative moments, there is a whole other layer of significance. The smile of smiles, whose inner nature is invisible, can only function in the finite world by means of potentially deceptive appearances, either as love or deceit depending on the character of the recipient.

The Smile There is a smile of love, And there is a smile of deceit, And there is a smile of smiles In which these two smiles meet. And there is a frown of hate, And there is a frown of disdain, And there is a frown of frowns Which you strive to forget in vain; For it sticks in the heart's deep core, And it sticks in the deep back bone. And no smile that ever was smil'd But only one smile alone, That betwixt the cradle & grave It only once smil'd can be; But when it once is smil'd, There's an end to all misery. William Blake