Is it normal to accidentally blurt out a compliment and then feel guilt?

I am a very happily married man and think my wife is the most beautiful woman on the planet. I was at church today, of all places, and was alone. I met the wife of a fellow churchgoer for the first time. As soon as I saw her, I thought she was so pretty, with her red hair and deep blue eyes. I sat next to her and her family and talked with her a bit, getting to know her. I had no interest in her romantically, being happily married and knowing her husband, it was just nice to meet my friend's family.

After the service, we were talking alone, and I completely accidentally blurted out what I was thinking, that "you are so pretty". As soon as the words came out, I regretted it and told her I didn't mean to be inappropriate, I love my wife, etc. She laughed it off and said some guys have a fetish for red hair, and that she wouldn't believe the number of compliments she got when she was a teen. She didn't seem offended, she thanked me, but I still feel so guilty and stupid for apparently losing control of my tongue. My wife knows I love her, that I'd never cheat on her, but I am not sure she would be happy knowing I told another woman she was pretty.

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Based on 37 votes (31 yes)
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Comments ( 7 )
  • loviex102

    It's fine to call someone else pretty. You can say a woman looks pretty and still think your wife is the best person alive. My father does that all the time to other people he goes they're so pretty in front of my mother and she knows he loves her but she doesnt mind.

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  • DavidS.

    jeez, cut yourself a break...you are only human and we all appreciate beauty....next you will be apologizing to the sunset, the full moon and the stary night...arent they beatiful too? stop apologizing...that made her self conscious amd ruined you chance to get with her ....ya never know when the relationship your in now goes south...we all need a back up plan...its only good planning

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  • 1000yrVampireKing

    No nothing is wrong with you. You just think she is pretty. If you think other women are pretty does not mean you want to be with them physically or romantically. She probobly just found it very sweet and I think most women enjoy being told they are pretty. If they can take the compliment or not I think they appreciate it. Long as you are not saying something like "I want to fuck you" or "I think you would look so hot in a bikini". If you have not you have done nothing wrong. Do not feel so bad about it. I don't think this is cheating and I think this might possibly make your wife upset if she is jealous type but you are not bad. If she is pretty she is pretty.

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  • Married men tell me all the time that im beautiful. I dont think less of them and im quite used to it. Its kinda bad though cuz im only 18 and theyre older lol

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  • boogdar

    I had that happen to me recently!
    I'm a nurse and I was taking care of this guy's mom. He's talking to me, and mid sentence, (well mid word actually) he said, "Wow, you're eyes are beautiful!"
    It was awkward for a second, and you could tell he felt bad for saying it. He said, "Sorry I wasn't flirting with you or anything, I just noticed."
    He was a nice guy, and I wasn't offended. And I believe that he wasn't flirting. He must just be like you and say what comes into his mind. haha.
    In fact, It made my day! It's so nice to get a compliment from a guy who isn't flirting because it makes it seem more genuine.

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  • macncheez

    You sound like such a nice guy and a loving husband. Sometimes we all act momentarily mesmerized by a good looking person even tho we never intend anything sexually. Just tell your wife what you did/said and I'll bet she'd think it was funny and agree that the woman really is pretty. This is how I'd react.

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  • mtnw

    don't feel guilty. a pretty lady is a pretty lady. it doesn't mean anything more than that.

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