Blowhard, Esq. writes:

Men really have strange emotions and behave in the most bizarre ways. Sometimes a man will leave a very pretty woman to marry an ugly one. Surely a gentleman who frequents the Palace should choose as his love the prettiest girl of good family he can find. Though she may be of such high standing that he cannot hope to make her his wife, he should, if he is really impressed by the girl, languish for her unto death.

Sometimes, too, a man will become so fascinated by a girl of whom he was heard favorable reports that he will do everything in his power to marry her even though they have never even met.

I do not understand how a many can possibly love a girl whom other people, even those of her own sex, find ugly.

I remember a certain woman who was both attractive and good-natured and who furthermore had excellent handwriting. Yet when she sent a beautifully written poem to the man of her choice, he replied with some pretentious jottings and did not even bother to visit her. She wept endearingly, but he was indifferent and went to see another woman instead. Everyone, even people who were not directly concerned, felt indignant about this callous behavior, and the woman’s family was much grieved. The man himself, however, showed not the slightest pity.

— The Pillow Book of Sei Shōnagon, c. 1002, translated by Ivan Morris