# To be happy for the rest of your life, never make a pretty woman your wife. True? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 22, 2005, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-be-happy-for-the-rest-of-your-life-never-make-a-pretty-woman-your-wife-true/322826 "2005-09-22T03:08:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2005, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-be-happy-for-the-rest-of-your-life-never-make-a-pretty-woman-your-wife-true/322826/1 "2005-09-22T03:08:37Z")
Do pretty women make less desirable wives over the long haul than plainer women? ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2005, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-be-happy-for-the-rest-of-your-life-never-make-a-pretty-woman-your-wife-true/322826/2 "2005-09-22T03:12:29Z")
For that saying to be true, all pretty women would have to have the same personality. All women are different and there really can be no generalizing. Some pretty women are bad people, some pretty women are good people. Some plain women are bad people, some ugly women are bad people. It’s hard for me to comprehend that someone could actually believe that they can predict what kind of wife a woman will be based on their looks. Jeez. ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2005, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-be-happy-for-the-rest-of-your-life-never-make-a-pretty-woman-your-wife-true/322826/3 "2005-09-22T03:13:35Z")
Oops, I mean some ugly women are _good_ people. Not a freudian slip! ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2005, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-be-happy-for-the-rest-of-your-life-never-make-a-pretty-woman-your-wife-true/322826/4 "2005-09-22T03:16:21Z")
The saying, as I interpret it, doesn’t refer to pretty women being unpleasant to be around, but to the fear/worrying that you’re subjected to if married to a pretty woman, since so many other men will be chasing her. It’s still nonsense, though. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2005, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-be-happy-for-the-rest-of-your-life-never-make-a-pretty-woman-your-wife-true/322826/5 "2005-09-22T03:27:27Z")
::not understanding why to make any woman, pretty or otherwise, into a wife:: Enjoy women. Assume they will enjoy other men. Make permanent friends of the ones that are truly good company, grow old along with them. Exchange bawdy tales of the various folks you’ve slept with and the times, good and bad, during which you’ve done your seeking. Have long chats over beer or wine or under the influence of intoxicants of ill repute about the pros and cons of being pretty if you’re a woman. And how it differs from not being pretty if you’re a woman. Or being a man, and whether it’s a man’s world to a nonpretty woman or a pretty woman or both. And so on. Marriage is for those who choose it. So is its absence, I reckon, and viva la diff and diff strokes for diff folks. Conversationally I’ve found pretty women make good conversation at later ages than the others do, but once they do they have tales to tell. And that itself is (of course) just a generalization. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2005, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-be-happy-for-the-rest-of-your-life-never-make-a-pretty-woman-your-wife-true/322826/6 "2005-09-22T04:44:41Z")
AHunter I’m not quite sure what that had to do with the thread… or anything to be honest. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Asbestos\_Mango](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@The\_Asbestos\_Mango](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Asbestos_Mango)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2005, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-be-happy-for-the-rest-of-your-life-never-make-a-pretty-woman-your-wife-true/322826/7 "2005-09-22T04:53:18Z")
Well, see, a pretty woman make a man feel small, very often causes his downfall. Soon as he marry her, then she start doin’ the things that’ll break his heart. If, on the other hand, you make an ugly woman your wife, you’ll be happy for the rest of your life. Seems that ugly women cook the meals on time, always give you peace of mind. Oh, come on, you knew _somebody_ was going to do it. ---
**Author:** ![NicePete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ee7513/32.png) [@NicePete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NicePete)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2005, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-be-happy-for-the-rest-of-your-life-never-make-a-pretty-woman-your-wife-true/322826/8 "2005-09-22T05:15:35Z")
Hard for me to say, since I’ve never been married to a pretty woman. However, I have been married to a woman that those more superficial among us might not call “pretty” for 17 years now. She is a far better friend and companion than I deserve. Anecdotal and non-probative, I admit. But Mrs. West has certainly made me happy. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2005, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-be-happy-for-the-rest-of-your-life-never-make-a-pretty-woman-your-wife-true/322826/9 "2005-09-22T06:20:00Z")
> [@Priceguy](#): > > The saying, as I interpret it, doesn’t refer to pretty women being unpleasant to be around, but to the fear/worrying that you’re subjected to if married to a pretty woman, since so many other men will be chasing her. > > It’s still nonsense, though. Probably true. In which case the woman has nothing to do with it, it’s all about your own insecurities. (I wasn’t married, but I learned this the last time out.) So ditch those and find a good-looking woman! ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2005, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-be-happy-for-the-rest-of-your-life-never-make-a-pretty-woman-your-wife-true/322826/10 "2005-09-22T06:34:41Z")
Shit, I’d be lucky to find any woman willing to let me be her husband. As long as they are good people, I’m not going to get too particular. ---
**Author:** ![Millit\_the\_Frail](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/51bf81/32.png) [@Millit\_the\_Frail](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Millit_the_Frail)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2005, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-be-happy-for-the-rest-of-your-life-never-make-a-pretty-woman-your-wife-true/322826/11 "2005-09-22T08:04:47Z")
I bet Mr. Frail would beg to differ. 🙂 I think the key to a happy marriage was best summed up by Judge Judy: “Beauty fades, stupid is forever.” ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2005, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-be-happy-for-the-rest-of-your-life-never-make-a-pretty-woman-your-wife-true/322826/12 "2005-09-22T08:08:33Z")
So how do you “make” a woman your wife? Isn’t it better to ask? ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2005, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-be-happy-for-the-rest-of-your-life-never-make-a-pretty-woman-your-wife-true/322826/13 "2005-09-22T09:35:41Z")
_Always marry an ugly girl That’s my favorite kind She’ll never ever leave you But if she does you won’t mind._ From an old bluegrass song. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2005, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-be-happy-for-the-rest-of-your-life-never-make-a-pretty-woman-your-wife-true/322826/14 "2005-09-22T10:08:48Z")
> [@The Asbestos Mango](#): > > Well, see, a pretty woman make a man feel small, very often causes his downfall. Soon as he marry her, then she start doin’ the things that’ll break his heart. > > If, on the other hand, you make an ugly woman your wife, you’ll be happy for the rest of your life. Seems that ugly women cook the meals on time, always give you peace of mind. This better not be a copyrighted song lyric. I got my ass moderated for posting one of those. > [@AHunter3](#): > > Enjoy women. Assume they will enjoy other men. I got the first part down. The second part really gets up my butt because I’ve got some issues with “other men.” ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2005, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-be-happy-for-the-rest-of-your-life-never-make-a-pretty-woman-your-wife-true/322826/15 "2005-09-22T11:59:29Z")
> [@Beware of Doug](#): > > This better not be a copyrighted song lyric. I got my ass moderated for posting one of those. It’s not the entire song. Did you get warned for posting a snippet? ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2005, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-be-happy-for-the-rest-of-your-life-never-make-a-pretty-woman-your-wife-true/322826/16 "2005-09-22T12:52:34Z")
Ummm…if she loves you, other men shouldn’t be a problem, regardless of what she looks like. Geez. I don’t get this whole jealousy thing anyway. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2005, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-be-happy-for-the-rest-of-your-life-never-make-a-pretty-woman-your-wife-true/322826/17 "2005-09-22T12:57:20Z")
Sorry for making a “meta-comment”. It’s just that I’ve run into way too many what I call “A then B” people lately. Their thinking is like: “People who are good at A tend to also be good at B. So let’s hire some people good at A.” Which is absurd. Just hire people good at B! So, my reaction to question in the OP is always: If you want to be married for a long time, marry someone you have a chance of staying married to a long time. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2005, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-be-happy-for-the-rest-of-your-life-never-make-a-pretty-woman-your-wife-true/322826/18 "2005-09-22T13:13:00Z")
My wife is beautiful by almost all accounts. She has her weaknesses but I have never thought that they had anything to do with being physically attractive. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2005, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-be-happy-for-the-rest-of-your-life-never-make-a-pretty-woman-your-wife-true/322826/19 "2005-09-22T13:45:13Z")
Jimmy Soul, 1963, number one Billboard hit: “If You Wanna Be Happy”. For those confused by the mention of song, the OP’s wording is drawn from the lyrics to this hit. ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2005, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-be-happy-for-the-rest-of-your-life-never-make-a-pretty-woman-your-wife-true/322826/20 "2005-09-22T13:46:57Z")
My husband married a pretty woman (I’ve been meaning to talk to him about that…) and he’s a miserable shell of his former self. So there you go… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-be-happy-for-the-rest-of-your-life-never-make-a-pretty-woman-your-wife-true/322826.md?page=2)