Dat virtus quod forma negat.
(Motto)

Virtue gives what physical appearance denies.

(pron = daht WEER-toos kwod FOHR-mah NAY-gaht)

Comment: The implication seems to be that while physical appearance seems so
important, being attractive finally occurs more for the virtues that we
practice (interior attitudes and integrity) than how we look physically
(exterior beauty, clothing, etc).

Anyone who has lived for a while knows that in human relationships, integrity
(wholeness) is what makes relationships work. Integrity is what can be relied
upon much more so than how my friend, spouse, partners, lover, neighbor,
employer, etc looks.

It also seems to me that virtue (inner attitudes and integrity) must first be
practiced on ourselves before it yields anything of substance. For instance, I
can set about to practice compassion toward others. If I do not practice
compassion toward myself first, then the compassion that I think I am
practicing toward others is finally just another exterior practice for others
to see—in hopes that I might impress someone. If I practice compassion on
myself first, then I begin to appreciate what real compassion is. Then, when I
am compassionate toward another, it comes from a very different place. It is
genuine. My compassion has integrity. The other person feels the difference,
and knows that there has been a genuine interchange between us.

Physical appearance cannot have that kind of affect on others.