MARRIAGE
Addison, Joseph
Two persons who have chosen each other out of all the species, with the design to be each other's mutual comfort and entertainment, have, in that action, bound themselves to be good-humored, affable, discreet, forgiving, patient, and joyful, with respect to each other's frailties and perfections, to the end of their lives.
Marriage enlarges the scene of our happiness and of our miseries.—A marriage of love is pleasant—of interest, easy, and where both meet, happy.—A happy marriage has in it all the pleasures of friendship, all the enjoyments of sense and reason, and, indeed, all the sweets of life.
Adler, Alfred
The Don Juans among men and the light-o'-loves among women are afraid of marriage.
Atterbury, Francis
They who marry give hostages to the public that they will not attempt the ruin, or disturb the peace of it.
Augustine, Saint
Humble wedlock is far better than proud virginity.
Bacon, Francis
He that hath wife and children, hath given hostages to fortune; for they are impediments to great enterprises, either of virtue or mischief. Certainly wife and children are a kind of discipline of humanity.
A man finds himself seven years older the day after his marriage.
Balzac, Honore de
One should believe in marriage as in the immortality of the soul.
Beecher, Henry Ward
Early marriages are permanent moralities; deferred marriages are temptations to wickedness.
Bovee, Christian Nestell
The love of some men for their wivess like that of Alfieri for his horse. "My attachment for him," said he, "went so far as to destroy my peace every time that he had the least ailment; but my love for him did not prevent me from fretting and chafing him whenever he did not wish to go my way."
Bremer, Fredrika
Many a marriage has commenced, like the morning, red, and perished like a mushroom. Wherefore? Because the married pair neglected to be as agreeable to each other after their union as they were before it. Seek always to please each other, but in doing so keep heaven in mind. Lavish not your love today, remembering that marriage has a morrow and again a morrow. Bethink ye, my daughters, what the word housewife expresses. The married woman is her husband's domestic trust. On her he ought to be able to place his reliance in house and family; to her he should confide the key of his heart and the lock of his storeroom. His honor and his home are under her protection, his welfare in her hands. Ponder this! And you, my sons, be true men of honor, and good fathers of your families. Act in such wise that your wives respect and love you. And what more shall I say to you, my children? Peruse diligently the word of God; that will guide you out of storm and dead calm, and bring you safe into port. And as for the rest —do your best!
Bulwer-Lytton, Edward George
Not the marriage of convenience, nor the marriage of reason, but the marriage of love.—All other marriage, with vows so solemn, with intimacy so close, is but acted falsehood and varnished sin.
Few natures can preserve through years the poetry of the first passionate illusion. That can alone render wedlock the seal that confirms affection, and not the mocking ceremonial that consecrates its grave.
Few of either sex are ever united to their first love.—Yet married people jog on and call each other "My dear" and "My darling," all the same.
Burke, Edmund
The Christian religion, by confining marriage to pairs, and rendering the relation indissoluble, has by these two things done more toward the peace, happiness, settlement, and civilization of the world, than by any other part in this whole scheme of divine wisdom.
Byron, George Gordon Noel
The bloom or blight of all men's happiness.
Coleridge, Samuel Taylor
Show me one couple unhappy merely on account of their limited circumstances, and I will show you ten who are wretched from other causes.
Collins, Wilkie
Husbands and wives talk of the cares of matrimony, and bachelors and spinsters bear them.
Colton, Caleb C.
That alliance may be said to have a double tie, where the minds are united as well as the body, and the union will have all its strength, when both the links are in perfection together.
Congreve, William
Married in haste, we repent at leisure.
Cowper, William
Oh, friendly to the best pursuits of man, friendly to thought, to virtue, and to peace, domestic life in rural leisure passed! few know thy value, and few taste thy sweets.
The kindest and the happiest pair will find occasion to forbear; and something, every day they live, to pity and perhaps forgive.
Dacier, Anne L.
It is in vain that a man is born fortunate, if he be unfortunate in his marriage.
Dickens, Charles
There is no disparity in marriage like unsuitability of mind and purpose.
Dupuy, Alexis
Men marry to make an end; women to make a beginning.
Dwight, Timothy
The institution of marriage keeps the moral world in being, and secures it from an untimely dissolution. Without it, natural affection and amiableness would not exist, domestic education would become extinct, industry and economy be unknown, and man would be left to the precarious existence of the savage. But for this institution, learning and refinement would expire, government sink into the gulf of anarchy; and religion, hunted from earth, would hasten back to her native heavens.
Eliot, George
What greater thing is there for two human souls than to feel that they are joined for life—to strengthen each other in all labor, to rest on each other in all sorrow, to minister to each other in all pain, to be one with each other in silent, unspeakable memories at the moment of the last parting.
Feltham, Owen
The married man is like the bee that fixes his hive, augments the world, benefits the republic, and by a daily diligence, without wronging any, profits all; but he who contemns wedlock, like a wasp, wanders an offence to the world, lives upon spoil and rapine, disturbs peace, steals sweets that are none of his own, and, by robbing the hives of others, meets misery as his due reward.
Fielding, Henry
As a great part of the uneasiness of matrimony arises from mere trifles, it would be wise in every young married man to enter into an agreement with his wife that in all disputes the party who was most convinced they were right should always surrender the victory. By this means both would be more forward to give up the cause.
Flexner, Abraham
Being a parent used to be one of the most simple, natural, inevitable developments in the world. But nowadays, one has no business to be married unless, waking and sleeping, one is conscious of the responsibility.
Fuller, Thomas
Deceive not thyself by over-expecting happiness in the married state.—Look not therein for contentment greater than God will give, or a creature in this world can receive, namely, to be free from all inconveniences.—Marriage is not like the hill of Olympus, wholly clear, without clouds.
They that marry old people merely in expectation of burying them, hang themselves in the hope that some one will come and cut the halter.
All the molestations of marriage are abundantly recompensed with the other comforts which God bestoweth on them who make a wise choice of a wife.
Garfield, James A.
The sanctity of marriage and the family relation make the cornerstone of our American society and civilization.
Gildersleeve, Virginia C.
I confess the combination of career and family is a problem for women that seems a bit difficult to me. Nursing schools and cooperative housekeeping may make it easier. Anyhow, many women are already practising it, by choice or by necessity—some 2,000,000 in fact—and in the future it will, I am sure, for economic, psychological reasons, be more and more usual for a woman to have a husband, children, a home and a career outside the home.
Giles, Henry
There is no earthly happiness exceeding that of a reciprocal satisfaction in the conjugal state.
Goldsmith, Oliver
I chose my wife, as she did her wedding gown, for qualities that would wear well.
Haldane, John B. S.
Marriage has a biological basis, and would be far more often a success if its biology were generally understood and the knowledge acted upon.
Heine, Heinrich
He that marries is like the Doge who was wedded to the Adriatic. He knows not what there is in that which he marries: mayhap treasures and pearls, mayhap monsters and tempests await him.
Helps, Sir Arthur
The man, at the head of the house, can mar the pleasure of the household, but he cannot make it.—That must rest with the woman, and it is her greatest privilege.
Hill, Aaron
O marriage! marriage! what a curse is thine, where hands alone consent, and hearts abhor!
Ibsen, Henrik
Marriage is a very sea of calls and claims, which have but little to do with love.
Marriage! Nothing else demands so much from a man!
Jerrold, Douglas
The last word is the most dangerous of infernal machines, and the husband and wife should no more fight to get it than they would struggle for the possession of a lighted bombshell.
Wedlock's like wine, not properly judged of till the second glass.
Johnson, Samuel
Were a man not to marry a second time, it might be concluded that his first wife had given him a disgust to marriage; but by taking a second wife, he pays the highest compliment to the first, by showing that she made him so happy as a married man, that he wishes to be so a second time.
A good wife is like the ivy which beautifies the building to which it clings, twining its tendrils more lovingly as time converts the ancient edifice into a ruin.
I believe marriages would in general be as happy, and often more so, if they were all made by the Lord Chancellor, upon a due consideration of the characters and circumstances, without the parties having any choice in the matter.
When we see the avaricious and crafty taking companions to their tables, and their beds, without any inquiry but after farms and money; or the giddy and thoughtless uniting themselves for life to those whom they have only seen by the light of tapers; when parents make articles for children without inquiring after their consent; when some marry for heirs to disappoint their brothers; and others throw themselves into the arms of those whom they do not love, because they have found themselves rejected where they were more solicitous to please; when some marry because their servants cheat them; some because they squander their own money; some because their houses are pestered with companv; some because they will live like other people; and some because they are sick of themselves, we are not so much inclined to wonder that marriage is sometimes unhappy, as that it appears so little loaded with calamity, and cannot but conclude that society has something in itself eminently agreeable to human nature, when we find its pleasures so great, that even the ill choice of a companion can hardly overbalance them.—Those, therefore, that rail against matrimony, should be informed, that they are neither to wonder, or repine, that a contract begun on such principles has ended in disappointment.
Marriage is the strictest tie of perpetual friendship, and there can be no friendship without confidence, and no confidence without integrity, and he must expect to be wretched, who pays to beauty, riches, or politeness that regard which only virtue and piety can claim.
Kipling, Rudyard
Pleasant the snaffle of courtship, improving the manners and carriage; but the colt who is wise will abstain from the terrible throw bit of Marriage.
Knowles, James Sheridan
Save the love we pay to heaven, there is none purer, holier, than that a virtuous woman feels for him she would cleave to through life. Sisters part from sisters, brothers from brothers, children from their parents, but such a woman from the husband of her choice, never!
Luther, Martin
God has set the type of marriage everywhere throughout the creation.—Every creature seeks its perfection in another.—The very heavens and earth picture it to us.
Macdonald, George
One of the good things that come of a true marriage is, that there is one face on which changes come without your seeing them; or rather there is one face which you can still see the same, through all the shadows which years have gathered upon it.
Massinger, Philip
For any man to match above his rank, is but to sell his liberty.
I know the sum of all that makes a man—a just man—happy, consists in the well choosing of his wife; and then well to discharge it, does require equality of years, of birth, of fortune.
Michelet, Jules
If you wish to ruin yourself, many a rich wife.
Middleton, Thomas
The treasures of the deep are not so precious as are the concealed comforts of a man locked up in woman's love: I scent the air of blessings when I come but near the house.
Milton, John
Hail wedded love, mysterious law, true source of human offspring, sole propriety in Paradise of all things common else. By thee adulterous lust was driven from men among the bestial herds to range; by thee founded in reason, loyal, just, and pure, relations dear, and all the charities of father, son, and brother first were known.
Moliere, Jean Baptiste
A husband is a plaster that cures all the ills of girlhood.
Moore, Thomas
The happy minglement of hearts, where, changed as chemic compounds are, each with its own existence parts, to find a new one, happier far.
Nathan, George Jean
Whether by design or accident, the fact remains that, with one small exception, no girl with a fancy Christian name has ever diverted the eye of a President of the United States to the matrimonial altar.
Novalis
Only so far as a man is happily married to himself, is he fit for married life to another, and for family life generally.
O'Malley, Austin
You cannot weld cake-dough to cast iron, nor a girl to an old man.
Ovid
If you would marry suitably, marry your equal.
Parker, Theodore
Marriages are best made of dissimilar material.
Penn, William
Never marry but for love; but see that thou lovest what is lovely.
Men are generally more careful of the breed of their horses and dogs than of their children.
Petit-Senn, Jean-Antoine
Marriage with a good woman is a harbor in the tempest of life; with a bad woman, it is a tempest in the harbor.
Pope, Alexander
Men dream in courtship, but in wedlock wake.
Porter, Jane
In the career of female fame, there are few prizes to be obtained which can vie with the obscure state of a beloved wife, or a happy mother.
Raleigh, Sir Walter
Remember, that if thou marry for beauty, thou bindest thyself all thy life for that which perchance will neither last nor please thee one year; and when thou hast it, it will be to thee of no price at all; for the desire dieth when it is attained, and the affection perisheth when it is satisfied.
Have ever more care that thou be beloved of thy wife, rather than thyself besotted on her; and thou shalt judge of her love by these two observations: first, if thou perceive she have a care of thy estate, and exercise herself therein; the other, if she study to please thee, and be sweet unto thee in conversation, without thy instruction; for love needs no teaching nor precept.
Reade, Charles
Marriage is a medicine which acts differently on good men and good women.—She does not love him quite enough—cure,—marriage.—He loves her a little too much—cure,—marriage.
Robertson, Frederick William
Marriage is not a union, merely between two creatures—it is a union between two spirits; and the intention of that bond is to perfect the nature of both, by supplementing their deficiencies with the force of contrast, giving to each sex those excellencies in which it is naturally deficient; to the one, strength of character and firmness of moral will; to the other, sympathy, meekness, tenderness; and just so solemn and glorious as these ends are for which the union was intended, just so terrible are the consequences if it be perverted and abused; for there is no earthly relationship which has so much power to ennoble and to exalt. There are two rocks, in this world of ours, on which the soul must either anchor or be wrecked—the one is God, and the other is the sex opposite.
Rochebrune, Abbe de
When a man and woman are married their romance ceases and their history commences.
Rowe, Nicholas
If you would have the nuptial union last, let virtue be the bond that ties it fast.
Rowland, Helen
Marriage is the Keeley cure for love's intoxication.
Scott, Sir Walter
From my experience, not one in twenty marries the first love; we build statues of snow, and weep to see them melt.
Scuderi, Madeleine
Men should keep their eyes wide open before marriage, and half shut afterward.
Selden, John
The happiness of married life depends upon making small sacrifices with readiness and cheerfulness.
Of all the actions or a man's life, his marriage does least concern other people, yet of all actions of our life, 'tis most meddled with by other people.
Shakespeare, William
Maids want nothing but husbands, and when they have them, they want everything.
Hasty marriage seldom proveth well.
Hanging and wiving go by destiny.
Let still the woman take an elder than herself; so wears she to him: so sways she level in her husband's heart.
Take not too short a time, to make a world-wide bargain in.
Shaw, Frances W.
Who loves the rain and loves his home, and looks on life with quiet eyes, him will I follow through the storm and at his hearth-fire keep me warm.
Shaw, George Bernard
What God hath joined together no man shall put asunder: God will take care of that.
The whole world is strewn with snares, traps, gins and pitfalls for the capture of men by women.
Shirley, James
Fathers their children and themselves abuse, that wealth a husband for their daughters choose.
Sidney, Sir Philip
When it shall please God to bring thee to man's estate, use great providence and circumspection in choosing thy wife. For from thence will spring all thy future good or evil; and it is an action of life, like unto a stratagem of war, wherein a man can err but once!
Simmons, Charles
A person's character is but half formed till after wedlock.
In choosing a wife, a nurse, or a school-teacher, look to the breed.—There is as much blood in men as in horses.
Smith, Sydney
Marriage resembles a pair of shears, so joined that they cannot be separated; often moving in opposite directions, yet always punishing any one who comes between them.
Sprat, Thomas
A great proportion of the wretchedness which has embittered married life, has originated in a negligence of trifles. Connubial happiness is a thing of too fine a texture to be handled roughly. It is a sensitive plant, which will not bear even the touch of unkindness; a delicate flower, which indifference will chill and suspicion blast. It must be watered by the showers of tender affection, expanded by the cheering glow of kindness, and guarded by the impregnable barrier of unshaken confidence. Thus matured, it will bloom with fragrance in every season of life, and sweeten even the loneliness of declining years.
Stanley, Arthur P.
A happy marriage is a new beginning of life, a new starting point for happiness and usefulness.
Stevenson, Robert Louis
Marriage is one long conversation, chequered by disputes.
Swedenborg, Emanuel
Two consorts in heaven are not two, but one angel.
Swetchine, Madam
In the opinion of the world marriage ends all, as it does in a comedy.—The truth is precisely the reverse; it begins all.
Swift, Jonathan
The reason why so few marriages are happy is because young ladies spend their time in making nets, not in making cages.
Tatler, The
When two persons have so good an opinion of each other as to come together for life, they will not differ in matters of importance, because they think of each other with respect; and in regard to all things of consideration that may affect them, they are prepared for mutual assistance and relief in such occurrences. For less occasions, they form no resolutions, but leave their minds unprepared.
Taylor, Jeremy
She that hath a wise husband must entice him to an eternal dearness by the veil of modesty and the grave robes of chastity, the ornament of meekness, and the jewels of faith and charity. She must have no painting but blushings; her brightness must be purity, and she must shine round about with sweetness and friendship; and she shall be pleasant while she lives, and desired when she dies.
Man and wife are equally concerned to avoid all offense of each other in the beginning of their conversation. A little thing can blast an infant blossom.
Celibacy, like the fly in the heart of an apple, dwells in perpetual sweetness, but sits alone, and is confined and dies in singularity; but marriage, like the useful bee, builds a house, and gathers sweetness from every flower, and labors and unites into societies and republics, and sends out colonies, and feeds the world with delicacies, and keeps order, and exercises many virtues, and promotes the interest of mankind, and is that state of good to which God hath designed the present constitution of the world.
Marriage has in it less of beauty, but more of safety, than the single life; it hath not more ease, but less danger; it is more merry and more sad; it is fuller of sorrows and fuller of joys; it lies under more burdens, but is supported by all the strengths of love and charity; and those burdens are delightful. Marriage is the mother of the world, and preserves kingdoms, and fills cities and churches, and heaven itself.
A married man falling into misfortune is more apt to retrieve his situation in the world than a single one, chiefly because his spirits are soothed and retrieved by domestic endearments, and his self-respect kept alive by finding that although all abroad be darkness and humiliation, yet there is a little world of love at home over which he is a monarch.
Tennyson, Alfred Lord
As the husband is, the wife is; if mated with a clown, the grossness of his nature will have weight to drag thee down.
Thomson, James
But happy they, the happiest of their kind, whom gentle stars unite; and in one fate their hearts, their fortunes, and their beings blend!
Thoreau, Henry David
There is more of good nature than of good sense at the bottom of most marriages.
Ward, Artemus
The happy married man dies in good stile at home, surrounded by his weeping wife and children. The old bachelor don't die at all—he sort of rots away, like a pollywog's tail.
