Marriage is not a love affair. A love affair is a totally…
““Marriage is not a love affair. A love affair is a totally different thing. A marriage is a commitment to that which you are. That person is literally your other half. And you and the other are one. A love affair isn't that. That is a relationship for pleasure, and when it gets to be unpleasurable, it's off. But a marriage is a life commitment, and a life commitment means the prime concern of your life. If marriage is not the prime concern, you're not married…The Puritans called marriage "the little church within the Church." In marriage, every day you love, and every day you forgive. It is an ongoing sacrament – love and forgiveness… Like the yin/yang symbol…Here I am, and here she is, and here we are. Now when I have to make a sacrifice, I'm not sacrificing to her, I'm sacrificing to the relationship. Resentment against the other one is wrongly placed. Life in in the relationship, that's where your life now is. That's what a marriage is – whereas, in a love affair, you have two lives in a more or less successful relationship to each other for a certain length of time, as long as it seems agreeable.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Marriage is a deep, lifelong partnership built on commitment, mutual sacrifice, and ongoing forgiveness, unlike a temporary love affair focused on pleasure.
In simple terms: Marriage is a committed partnership, not just romance.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize commitment and forgiveness.
Themes
commitment
partnership
forgiveness
love
sacrifice
Mood
reflective
intimate
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- wedding vows
- counseling sessions
- long‑term relationships
- family planning
Key Concepts
Relational ethics
spiritual symbolism
Questions to Reflect On
- What does sacrifice look like in your relationship?
- How do you keep forgiveness alive daily?
A Different Perspective
Romantic love alone cannot sustain a marriage; challenges arise.