"What house, bloated with luxury, ever became prosperous without a woman's excellence?"

This quote by Sophocles is a tip of the value of women in the home. He is suggesting that a home, no matter how glamorous, can not end up being thriving without the quality of a woman. This excellence might refer to a female's ability to handle the house, her skills in cooking and cleaning, or her ability to provide emotional support and stability. Ladies have traditionally been the foundation of the household, and this quote is a reminder of the value of their function. Without a female's quality, a home might be filled with high-end, but it will not be prosperous. Females are necessary to the success of a house, and this quote is a suggestion of that.