Never guess a woman's age. Never guess a woman's weight. Never even talk about weight in front of a woman. And... — Lyle Lovett

Never guess a woman's age. Never guess a woman's weight. Never even talk about weight in front of a woman. And never, ever ask a woman when she's due.

Author: Lyle Lovett

Insight: There's a practical wisdom buried in this advice that goes way beyond politeness. These are all situations where you're essentially asking someone to defend something about their body that they probably already have complicated feelings about. Age, weight, pregnancy timing—each one invites comparison, judgment, or unwanted scrutiny. The real insight is that these topics have an awkward power dynamic built in: you're putting someone in a position where they have to either answer and feel exposed, or dodge and feel rude. What makes this advice hold up today is recognizing that people already live inside their bodies with constant awareness of these measurements. A woman doesn't need an external voice narrating or questioning what she's already thinking about. The kindness isn't just in avoiding rudeness; it's in not making someone's physical reality a topic of conversation where they feel like they're being evaluated. The surprising part? This isn't really about women at all—it's about basic human dignity. We all carry insecurities about how we look and age. When someone avoids these minefields with us, it feels like they see us as people first, bodies second. That restraint, that choice not to comment, actually communicates respect in a way forced compliments never could.