Cautionary insights

SOMETIMES, people look at the face of an actress or actor and wish that they could also be beautiful or handsome. Some traditional Filipino proverbs that offer cautionary insights into beauty:

Beauty fades, but not goodness.

You may be beautiful—but, if you are cranky, I’d prefer someone who’s ugly but kind.

Beauty is sometimes used to entrap someone.

Beauty is only on the surface; character cannot be seen.

Purity

The beauty of a woman’s face doesn’t reveal the purity of her soul.

What will you do with beauty if you’ll only be a man’s rag?

The essence of beauty cannot be painted.

Beauty without dignity is like a flower without fragrance.

A flower dries up in the heat of the sun, just like beauty that fades with time.