APAD: Handsome is as handsome does.

APAD: Handsome is as handsome does.

 

Meaning:

Good deeds are more important than good looks.

 

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I'll skip the background and go striaght to the script of Forrest Gump, the 1994

blockbuster, which repeats a similar phrase.

 

When Jenny and Forrest first met:

   JENNY:   Are you stupid or something.

   FORREST: Mommy says stupid is as stupid does.

 

When Forrest first visited Bubba's family:

   MRS. BLUE: Are you crazy, or just plain stupid?

   FORREST:   Stupid is as stupid does, Mrs. Blue.

 

When Forrest paid an old black shrimper a large wad of cash,

   OLD SHRIMPER: Tell me something. Are you stupid or something?

   FORREST:      Stupid is as stupid does, sir.

 

It was so memorable also because at the New Oriental School, we were encouraged

to recite the script to better English speaking.