--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Must we always bedeck ourselves in…" description: "\"“Must we always bedeck ourselves in prettiness to be thought pleasing? It would appear so. A woman must look a certain way to be worthy of a man’s atte..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3e/paula-brackston-28298_quote_must-we-always-bedeck-ourselves-in-prett_1084947.jpg" --- # Must we always bedeck ourselves in prettiness to be… ![“Must we always bedeck ourselves in prettiness to be thought pleasing? It would appear so. A woman must look a certain way to be worthy of a man’s attentions. It is expected.” quote by Paula Brackston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3e/paula-brackston-28298_quote_must-we-always-bedeck-ourselves-in-prett_1084947.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3e/paula-brackston-28298_quote_must-we-always-bedeck-ourselves-in-prett_1084947.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3e/paula-brackston-28298_quote_must-we-always-bedeck-ourselves-in-prett_1084947.jpg) > ““Must we always bedeck ourselves in prettiness to be thought pleasing? It would appear so. A woman must look a certain way to be worthy of a man’s attentions. It is expected.”” [Paula Brackston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-brackston/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Societal pressure forces women to conform to beauty standards to gain acceptance, limiting authentic self‑expression. **In simple terms:** Women feel forced to look a certain way to be valued. Key Takeaway Challenge imposed beauty norms. Themes beauty standards gender expectations self‑worth Mood frustrated reflective Type cultural critical When to use this quote - dating - workplace - social media - personal relationships Key Concepts feminist critique social conformity Questions to Reflect On - How do you define your own worth beyond appearance? - What steps can you take to resist pressure? A Different Perspective Beauty expectations can be internalized, causing self‑esteem issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Appear Woman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appear-woman-2774169/) [Bedeck Prettiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bedeck-prettiness-2774171/) [Pleasing Appear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasing-appear-2774170/) [Prettiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prettiness/) [Prettiness Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prettiness-thought-2774168/) ## Related quotes > [“Let her not forget that she may be a man in the superiority of her mind, in decision of character, but that externally she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/therese-oniell/let-her-not-forget-that-she-may-be-a-man-in-the-superiority-of-her/) [Therese Oniell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/therese-oniell/) > [Prettiness dies first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/prettiness-dies-first/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [“And yet, in a touching, shrunken way, she was rather pretty - a prettiness marred by her seeing to be precariously balanced on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/and-yet-in-a-touching-shrunken-way-she-was-rather-pretty-a-prettiness/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [Cute is when your personality shines through your looks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-portman/cute-is-when-your-personality-shines-through-your-looks/) [Natalie Portman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-portman/) > [“When you are very pretty, people tend to remark on your looks. They smile at you more easily. They are more permissive of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-gidwitz/when-you-are-very-pretty-people-tend-to-remark-on-your-looks-they/) [Adam Gidwitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-gidwitz/) > [“We’ve been told prettiness will somehow make us better—and more loved. Do we really want to bear the mark of physical beauty? Or do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-wicker/we-ve-been-told-prettiness-will-somehow-make-us-better-and-more-loved/) [Kate Wicker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-wicker/) > [Your prettiness is skin deep , Your ugliness is bone deep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siyixoxo/your-prettiness-is-skin-deep-your-ugliness-is-bone-deep/) [Siyixoxo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siyixoxo/) > [In her early days she had that beatific expression characteristic of Victorian prettiness - like a sheep painted by Raphael.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-agate/in-her-early-days-she-had-that-beatific-expression-characteristic-of/) [James Agate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-agate/) > [It was very unusual to employ prettiness as part of a building.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-venturi/it-was-very-unusual-to-employ-prettiness-as-part-of-a-building/) [Robert Venturi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-venturi/) > [Sunglasses are like eye shadow: They make everything look younger and pretty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-lagerfeld/sunglasses-are-like-eye-shadow-they-make-everything-look-younger-and/) [Karl Lagerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-lagerfeld/) > [Snow was falling, so much like stars filling the dak trees that one could easily imagine its reason for being was nothing more the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/snow-was-falling-so-much-like-stars-filling-the-dak-trees-that-one/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [She was saved from prettiness by the intensity of her gaze.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bowles/she-was-saved-from-prettiness-by-the-intensity-of-her-gaze/) [Paul Bowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bowles/) > [You don’t owe prettiness to anyone. Not to your boyfriend/spouse/partner, not to your co-workers, especially not to random men on the street. You don’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-mckean/you-don-t-owe-prettiness-to-anyone-not-to-your-boyfriend-spouse/) [Erin McKean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-mckean/) > [“Beauty lies in the purity of Heart,looking good is just called prettiness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vansh-wadhwani/beauty-lies-in-the-purity-of-heart-looking-good-is-just-called/) [Vansh Wadhwani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vansh-wadhwani/) > [Pretty, and you may be talented, but nobody will remember that if you're mean.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-holmes/pretty-and-you-may-be-talented-but-nobody-will-remember-that-if-you/) [Katie Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-holmes/) ## More by Paula Brackston > [“For whatever time we might have, my love. For whatever time we might have.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-brackston/for-whatever-time-we-might-have-my-love-for-whatever-time-we-might/) [Paula Brackston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-brackston/) > [“The dead are seldom silent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-brackston/the-dead-are-seldom-silent/) [Paula Brackston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-brackston/) > [“Alas my love you do me wrong To cast me off discourteously; And I have loved you oh so longer Delighting in your company.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-brackston/alas-my-love-you-do-me-wrong-to-cast-me-off-discourteously-and-i-have/) [Paula Brackston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-brackston/) > [“To learn, you must be humble. You must be prepared to admit your ignorance. You must allow yourselves to be filled with the vital…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-brackston/to-learn-you-must-be-humble-you-must-be-prepared-to-admit-your/) [Paula Brackston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-brackston/) > [“There is none so quick to dismiss what they don’t understand as those who are afraid of it. And maybe with reason.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-brackston/there-is-none-so-quick-to-dismiss-what-they-don-t-understand-as-those/) [Paula Brackston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-brackston/) > [“Faith requires no proof. No evidence. No explanation. Faith is entirely a matter of trust and belief. We cannot know, we can only believe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-brackston/faith-requires-no-proof-no-evidence-no-explanation-faith-is-entirely/) [Paula Brackston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-brackston/) > [“Poverty has a way of taking the edge off principles. Hunger can blunt them altogether.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-brackston/poverty-has-a-way-of-taking-the-edge-off-principles-hunger-can-blunt/) [Paula Brackston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-brackston/) > [“If to be in love is to lose one’s self then I am as in love as it is possible to be, for I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-brackston/if-to-be-in-love-is-to-lose-one-s-self-then-i-am-as-in-love-as-it-is/) [Paula Brackston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-brackston/) > [“If you are not able to travel, he told me, the next best thing is to read. Read all you can, girl. And store…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-brackston/if-you-are-not-able-to-travel-he-told-me-the-next-best-thing-is-to/) [Paula Brackston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-brackston/) > [“Laura's mind was already racing with the creative possibilities presented to her. She whipped out her sketchbook and started to work away with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-brackston/laura-s-mind-was-already-racing-with-the-creative-possibilities/) [Paula Brackston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-brackston/) > [“The low, white house nestled at the top of the meadows, its back against the hill that rose behind it, protecting it from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-brackston/the-low-white-house-nestled-at-the-top-of-the-meadows-its-back/) [Paula Brackston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-brackston/) > [“Merlin stepped forward until he was standing not more than an arm's length from Megan. He gestured toward the wolf. "Please, do not be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-brackston/merlin-stepped-forward-until-he-was-standing-not-more-than-an-arm-s/) [Paula Brackston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-brackston/) > [“She gazed out at the seductive vista. The countryside was dressed in its prettiest May garb- everything budding or blooming or bursting out in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-brackston/she-gazed-out-at-the-seductive-vista-the-countryside-was-dressed-in/) [Paula Brackston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-brackston/) > [“There was roast hog, of course, braised mutton, and casserole of the tenderest beef. Platters of trout and salmon gleamed like treasure, dressed with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-brackston/there-was-roast-hog-of-course-braised-mutton-and-casserole-of-the/) [Paula Brackston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-brackston/) > [“Who was it, I wonder, who decided that heartbroken relatives should host a party at the very moment all they wished for was to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-brackston/who-was-it-i-wonder-who-decided-that-heartbroken-relatives-should/) [Paula Brackston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-brackston/) [Explore all 19 Paula Brackston quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-brackston/) ## More Prettiness quotes > [Prettiness dies first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/prettiness-dies-first/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [“Beauty lies in the purity of Heart,looking good is just called prettiness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vansh-wadhwani/beauty-lies-in-the-purity-of-heart-looking-good-is-just-called/) [Vansh Wadhwani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vansh-wadhwani/) > [You don’t owe prettiness to anyone. Not to your boyfriend/spouse/partner, not to your co-workers, especially not to random men on the street. You don’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-mckean/you-don-t-owe-prettiness-to-anyone-not-to-your-boyfriend-spouse/) [Erin McKean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-mckean/) > [She was saved from prettiness by the intensity of her gaze.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bowles/she-was-saved-from-prettiness-by-the-intensity-of-her-gaze/) [Paul Bowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bowles/) > [Snow was falling, so much like stars filling the dak trees that one could easily imagine its reason for being was nothing more the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/snow-was-falling-so-much-like-stars-filling-the-dak-trees-that-one/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [Sunglasses are like eye shadow: They make everything look younger and pretty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-lagerfeld/sunglasses-are-like-eye-shadow-they-make-everything-look-younger-and/) [Karl Lagerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-lagerfeld/) > [It was very unusual to employ prettiness as part of a building.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-venturi/it-was-very-unusual-to-employ-prettiness-as-part-of-a-building/) [Robert Venturi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-venturi/) > [In her early days she had that beatific expression characteristic of Victorian prettiness - like a sheep painted by Raphael.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-agate/in-her-early-days-she-had-that-beatific-expression-characteristic-of/) [James Agate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-agate/) > [Your prettiness is skin deep , Your ugliness is bone deep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siyixoxo/your-prettiness-is-skin-deep-your-ugliness-is-bone-deep/) [Siyixoxo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siyixoxo/) > [“We’ve been told prettiness will somehow make us better—and more loved. Do we really want to bear the mark of physical beauty? Or do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-wicker/we-ve-been-told-prettiness-will-somehow-make-us-better-and-more-loved/) [Kate Wicker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-wicker/) > [“When you are very pretty, people tend to remark on your looks. They smile at you more easily. They are more permissive of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-gidwitz/when-you-are-very-pretty-people-tend-to-remark-on-your-looks-they/) [Adam Gidwitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-gidwitz/) > [Cute is when your personality shines through your looks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-portman/cute-is-when-your-personality-shines-through-your-looks/) [Natalie Portman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-portman/) > [“And yet, in a touching, shrunken way, she was rather pretty - a prettiness marred by her seeing to be precariously balanced on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/and-yet-in-a-touching-shrunken-way-she-was-rather-pretty-a-prettiness/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [Pretty, and you may be talented, but nobody will remember that if you're mean.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-holmes/pretty-and-you-may-be-talented-but-nobody-will-remember-that-if-you/) [Katie Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-holmes/) > [“You Don’t Have to Be Pretty. You don’t owe prettiness to anyone. Not to your boyfriend/spouse/partner, not to your co-workers, especially not to random…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-a-dress-a-day/you-don-t-have-to-be-pretty-you-don-t-owe-prettiness-to-anyone-not-to/) [Erin @ A Dress A Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-a-dress-a-day/) [Browse all 45 Prettiness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prettiness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Must we always bedeck ourselves in prettiness to be thought pleasing? It would appear so. A woman must look a certain way to be worthy of a man’s attentions. It is expected.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Paula Brackston" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-brackston/must-we-always-bedeck-ourselves-in-prettiness-to-be-thought-pleasing/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Prettiness" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-brackston/must-we-always-bedeck-ourselves-in-prettiness-to-be-thought-pleasing/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3e/paula-brackston-28298_quote_must-we-always-bedeck-ourselves-in-prett_1084947.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3e/paula-brackston-28298_quote_must-we-always-bedeck-ourselves-in-prett_1084947.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3e/paula-brackston-28298_quote_must-we-always-bedeck-ourselves-in-prett_1084947.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Must we always bedeck ourselves in prettiness to be thought pleasing? It would appear so. A woman must look…” — Paula Brackston", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Paula Brackston", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-brackston/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Must we always bedeck ourselves in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-brackston/must-we-always-bedeck-ourselves-in-prettiness-to-be-thought-pleasing/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-brackston/must-we-always-bedeck-ourselves-in-prettiness-to-be-thought-pleasing/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```