If you like somebody, they look better to you. This is why spouses in happy marriages tend to think that their husband or wife looks much better than anyone else thinks that they do.

Bloom is pointing to a well-studied psychological phenomenon: our evaluations of other people are not neutral readings of objective features, but are filtered through emotion, attachment, and motivation. Liking someone can literally change how attractive they appear, because affection biases attention toward flattering cues and away from flaws, and because we tend to rationalize and reinforce our commitments (especially in close relationships). The remark about “happy marriages” suggests that satisfaction and bonding sustain a mutually enhancing perceptual loop: positive feelings make a partner seem more attractive, and perceiving them as attractive can in turn support relationship contentment. The quote underscores how perception and value are intertwined rather than separable.