Ten Qualities of the Beautiful Woman

• That she be loyal to her husband and her son, and sacrifice herself for them at need; for sacrifice is bitter, and bitterer still that circumstances should demand it and the wife refuse—then her stand leaves an echo that torments her conscience all her life.

• That she attend to her house before her adornment, and to her mind before her heart.

• That she not burden her husband beyond his capacity, whether the burden be money for him to give or coquetry to vex him.

• That she not imitate her wealthy sister, or her beautiful friend, or her frivolous neighbor; for each has her share of money or beauty, and each her path in the world and her manner of living.

• That she not come into the family as a newcomer and lord it over its poor, humiliate its needy, break up its unity, rebel against its ways, and set fire in its corners.

• That she disown her beauty if she is beautiful, and be modest about her learning if she is learned, and know that among people there are those more beautiful than she, or more learned.

• That she beware of evil talk about others among her acquaintances and friends; for the walls have listening ears, and some of our ladies build a dome out of a grain—and history bears witness to their pre-eminence in relating news and in trimming and garnishing it, with never a look at the results or the consequences.

• That the wife in particular should know that leaving the house every morning and every evening is not among the functions of the lady of the family—unless, that is, she happens to be an employee at Cicurel or Chemla or Omar Effendi or some other of the houses of fashion!

• That she be well informed about the affairs of the world, neither ignoring the problems of her country nor regarding talk of the people's sufferings and hopes as a matter that does not concern her.

• That she know that for every occasion there is a fitting word, and for every gathering its proper manners; and that her happiest hours are those free of idle talk, and her loveliest gatherings those far removed from wine and gambling.