In the most rigorous [Roman] laws, a wife was condemned to…
![“In the most rigorous [Roman] laws, a wife was condemned to support a gamester, a drunkard, or a libertine, unless he were guilty of homicide, poison, or sacrilege, in which cases the marriage, as it should seem, might have been dissolved by the hand of the executioner.” quote by Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/q/i/f58/edward-gibbon-710_cases_in-the-most-rigorous-roman-laws-a-wife-w_2829227.png)
“In the most rigorous [Roman] laws, a wife was condemned to support a gamester, a drunkard, or a libertine, unless he were guilty of homicide, poison, or sacrilege, in which cases the marriage, as it should seem, might have been dissolved by the hand of the executioner.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Roman law forced wives to support husbands’ vices unless they committed severe crimes, showing gendered legal burdens.
In simple terms: Wives were legally bound to support immoral husbands.
Key Takeaway
Advocate equitable legal reforms.
Themes
law
gender
marriage
Mood
critical
historical
Type
analytical
thought‑provoking
When to use this quote
- historical analysis
- legal reform
- gender equality
Key Concepts
legal responsibility
social norms
Questions to Reflect On
- How did such laws affect women’s autonomy?
- What parallels exist today?
A Different Perspective
Modern laws differ; context matters.