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We don't marry women, he thought; we marry angels, and in…

“We don't marry women, he thought; we marry angels, and in this moment or two of the marriage act, the scales fall from our eyes and we see them as they really are, perhaps never to glimpse it again. How lovely she is, how unearthly lovely.” quote by Cornell Woolrich
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““We don't marry women, he thought; we marry angels, and in this moment or two of the marriage act, the scales fall from our eyes and we see them as they really are, perhaps never to glimpse it again. How lovely she is, how unearthly lovely.””

Cornell Woolrich

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The narrator sees marriage as an idealized union with an angelic partner, whose true nature is briefly revealed before fading.

In simple terms: Marriage is seen as marrying an ideal, not a real person.

Key Takeaway

Seek authentic connection beyond idealization.

Themes

love illusion perception

Mood

reflective melancholic

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

  • courtship
  • marriage counseling
  • self‑reflection

Key Concepts

idealization human relationships

Questions to Reflect On

  • Do you ever idealize partners?
  • How does reality change perception of love?
A Different Perspective

Idealized views can obscure reality.

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