Let me reason with the supporters of this opinion, who…
““Let me reason with the supporters of this opinion, who have any knowledge of human nature, do they imagine that marriage can eradicate the habitude of life? The woman who has only been taught to please, will soon find that her charms are oblique sun-beams, and that they cannot have much effect on her husband's heart when they are seen every day, when the summer is past and gone. Will she then have sufficient native energy to look into herself for comfort, and cultivate her dormant faculties? or, is it not more rational to expect, that she will try to please other men; and, in the emotions raised by the expectation of new conquests, endeavour to forget the mortification her love or pride has received? When the husband ceases to be a lover—and the time will inevitably come, her desire of pleasing will then grow languid, or become a spring of bitterness; and love, perhaps, the most evanescent of all passions, gives place to jealousy or vanity.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Marriage alone cannot fulfill a woman's deeper needs; reliance on external approval leads to emptiness and resentment.
In simple terms: Marriage doesn't satisfy inner growth.
Key Takeaway
Seek self‑knowledge and inner fulfillment.
Themes
marriage
gender roles
self‑esteem
relationships
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
philosophical
feminist
When to use this quote
- marriage counseling
- personal development
- relationship education
Key Concepts
human nature
psychology
dependency
Questions to Reflect On
- How can one cultivate inner worth beyond external approval?
- What practices nurture self‑sufficiency?
A Different Perspective
Relying on a spouse for validation may ignore personal agency.