--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Men dream of courtship, but in wedlock…" description: "\"Men dream of courtship, but in wedlock wake.\" — Alexander Pope" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53e/alexander-pope-235_dream_men-dream-of-courtship-but-in-wedlock-wa_1602911.png" --- # Men dream of courtship, but in wedlock wake. ![“Men dream of courtship, but in wedlock wake.” quote by Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53e/alexander-pope-235_dream_men-dream-of-courtship-but-in-wedlock-wa_1602911.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53e/alexander-pope-235_dream_men-dream-of-courtship-but-in-wedlock-wa_1602911.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53e/alexander-pope-235_dream_men-dream-of-courtship-but-in-wedlock-wa_1602911.png) > “Men dream of courtship, but in wedlock wake.” [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Romantic idealism fades when reality of marriage arrives, revealing practical challenges. **In simple terms:** Ideal love fades after marriage. Key Takeaway Recognize love’s practical side. Themes love marriage reality idealism Mood reflective melancholic Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - married life - long‑term relationships - family planning Key Concepts Romanticism pragmatism Questions to Reflect On - How do expectations change after marriage? - What practical steps sustain love? A Different Perspective Idealism may overlook daily responsibilities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Romance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/romance/) [Wedlock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wedlock/) ## Related quotes > [They dream in courtship, but in wedlock wake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/they-dream-in-courtship-but-in-wedlock-wake/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Horses (thou say'st) and asses men may try, And ring suspected vessels ere they buy; But wives, a random choice, untried they take; They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/horses-thou-say-st-and-asses-men-may-try-and-ring-suspected-vessels/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Grave authors say, and witty poets sing, That honest wedlock is a glorious thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/grave-authors-say-and-witty-poets-sing-that-honest-wedlock-is-a/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [There's something beautiful about that Scripture that says, "Your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams" (Acts 2:17). We need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-claiborne/there-s-something-beautiful-about-that-scripture-that-says-your-young/) [Shane Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-claiborne/) > [The man who has perceived God looks upon all types of men as dream motion-picture images, made of the relativities of the light of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/the-man-who-has-perceived-god-looks-upon-all-types-of-men-as-dream/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [“All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake up in the day to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/all-men-dream-but-not-equally-those-who-dream-by-night-in-the-dusty/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“We would have visions in those days,a number of us did. Your young men will have visions and your old men will dream dreams”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/we-would-have-visions-in-those-days-a-number-of-us-did-your-young-men/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [“you don't know this, baby, but some men have dream women too" Tack-Motorcyle Man”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/you-don-t-know-this-baby-but-some-men-have-dream-women-too-tack/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [We need men who can dream of things that never were.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-need-men-who-can-dream-of-things-that-never-were/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been a cat guy. Every night as I go to sleep, I have this particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/for-as-long-as-i-can-remember-i-ve-always-been-a-cat-guy-every-night/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“Well-determined centers of revery are means of communication between men who dream as surely as well-defined concepts are means of communications between men who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaston-bachelard/well-determined-centers-of-revery-are-means-of-communication-between/) [Gaston Bachelard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaston-bachelard/) > [“Boys dream of strippers, men dream of their women waiting for them at home.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-brooks/boys-dream-of-strippers-men-dream-of-their-women-waiting-for-them-at/) [Kathleen Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-brooks/) > [The search after the great men is the dream of youth, and the most serious occupation of manhood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-search-after-the-great-men-is-the-dream-of-youth-and-the-most/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [One can see now how the idea of heaven takes hold of men's consciousness, how it gains ground even when all the props have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/one-can-see-now-how-the-idea-of-heaven-takes-hold-of-men-s/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) > [“We men dream dreams, we work magic, we do good, we do evil. The dragons do not dream. They are dreams. They do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/we-men-dream-dreams-we-work-magic-we-do-good-we-do-evil-the-dragons/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) ## More by Alexander Pope > [How do we know that we have a right to kill creatures that we are so little above, as dogs, for our curiosity or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/how-do-we-know-that-we-have-a-right-to-kill-creatures-that-we-are-so/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [To wake the soul by tender strokes of art, To raise the genius, and to mend the heart; To make mankind, in conscious virtue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/to-wake-the-soul-by-tender-strokes-of-art-to-raise-the-genius-and-to/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [A mighty maze! But not without a plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/a-mighty-maze-but-not-without-a-plan/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Let such teach others who themselves excel, And censure freely who have written well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/let-such-teach-others-who-themselves-excel-and-censure-freely-who/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [For I, who hold sage Homer's rule the best, Welcome the coming, speed the going guest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/for-i-who-hold-sage-homer-s-rule-the-best-welcome-the-coming-speed/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Like following life through creatures you dissect, You lose it in the moment you detect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/like-following-life-through-creatures-you-dissect-you-lose-it-in-the/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [When two people compliment each other with the choice of anything, each of them generally gets that which he likes least.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/when-two-people-compliment-each-other-with-the-choice-of-anything/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Such labour'd nothings, in so strange a style, Amaze th' unlearn'd and make the learned smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/such-labour-d-nothings-in-so-strange-a-style-amaze-th-unlearn-d-and/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Charms strike the sight, but merit wins the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/charms-strike-the-sight-but-merit-wins-the-soul/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [She went from opera, park, assembly, play, To morning walks, and prayers three hours a day. To part her time 'twixt reading and bohea,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/she-went-from-opera-park-assembly-play-to-morning-walks-and-prayers/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [I am satisfied to trifle away my time, rather than let it stick by me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/i-am-satisfied-to-trifle-away-my-time-rather-than-let-it-stick-by-me/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [The greatest advantage I know of being thought a wit by the world is, that it gives one the greater freedom of playing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/the-greatest-advantage-i-know-of-being-thought-a-wit-by-the-world-is/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Then say not Man's imperfect,Heav'n in fault; Say rather, Man's as perfect ashe ought:](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/then-say-not-man-s-imperfect-heav-n-in-fault-say-rather-man-s-as/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [First follow Nature, and your judgment frame By her just standard, which is still the same: Unerring nature, still divinely bright, One clear, unchanged,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/first-follow-nature-and-your-judgment-frame-by-her-just-standard/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Who shall decide when doctors disagree, And soundest casuists doubt, like you and me?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/who-shall-decide-when-doctors-disagree-and-soundest-casuists-doubt/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) [Explore all 850 Alexander Pope quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) ## More Dream quotes > [“Once we become sensitive to dreams, we discover that every dynamic in a dream is manifesting itself in some way in our practical lives”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-johnson/once-we-become-sensitive-to-dreams-we-discover-that-every-dynamic-in/) [Robert A. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-johnson/) > [A thing of beauty is a joy for ever;It's loveliness increase;it will never pass into nothingness;but still will keep a bower quiet for us,and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/a-thing-of-beauty-is-a-joy-for-ever-it-s-loveliness-increase-it-will/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [“Not that it matters, when you dream, there's no outside or in. Your mind is an unimaginable bloom. A willow catkin as big as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-shapero/not-that-it-matters-when-you-dream-there-s-no-outside-or-in-your-mind/) [Rich Shapero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-shapero/) > [Academically, I was never that interested. I skipped classes. My biggest dream was to have a coffee shop, but I had no idea how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-espinosa/academically-i-was-never-that-interested-i-skipped-classes-my-biggest/) [Daniel Espinosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-espinosa/) > [“As dreams are the healing songs from the wilderness of our unconscious - So wild animals, wild plants, wild landscapes are the healing dreams…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-pendell/as-dreams-are-the-healing-songs-from-the-wilderness-of-our/) [Dale Pendell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-pendell/) > [Alone in a world, With millions of souls Walking in circles Trapped in their dreams unhealthy, unclean walking in circles, now do not disturb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-bennington/alone-in-a-world-with-millions-of-souls-walking-in-circles-trapped-in/) [Chester Bennington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-bennington/) > [“Doing the work to transform your dreams into reality is like walking across the earth. It can be that hard, and it can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dragos-bratasanu/doing-the-work-to-transform-your-dreams-into-reality-is-like-walking/) [Dragos Bratasanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dragos-bratasanu/) > [As far as Im concerned, I didnt dream - ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-sturgeon/as-far-as-im-concerned-i-didnt-dream-ever/) [Theodore Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-sturgeon/) > [I have long felt that the way to keep children out of trouble is to keep them interested in things. Lecturing to children is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/i-have-long-felt-that-the-way-to-keep-children-out-of-trouble-is-to/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [I guess, it's a father's dream for his daughter to be known around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-soberano/i-guess-it-s-a-father-s-dream-for-his-daughter-to-be-known-around-the/) [Liza Soberano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-soberano/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [Sometimes life seems like a dream, especially when I look down and see that I forgot to put on my pants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/sometimes-life-seems-like-a-dream-especially-when-i-look-down-and-see/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [“I had a dream. I had an awesome dream.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-had-a-dream-i-had-an-awesome-dream/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“His dream must have seemed so close that he could hardly fail to grasp it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/his-dream-must-have-seemed-so-close-that-he-could-hardly-fail-to/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) [Browse all 26,527 Dream quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Men dream of courtship, but in wedlock wake.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alexander Pope" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/men-dream-of-courtship-but-in-wedlock-wake/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dream" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/men-dream-of-courtship-but-in-wedlock-wake/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53e/alexander-pope-235_dream_men-dream-of-courtship-but-in-wedlock-wa_1602911.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53e/alexander-pope-235_dream_men-dream-of-courtship-but-in-wedlock-wa_1602911.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53e/alexander-pope-235_dream_men-dream-of-courtship-but-in-wedlock-wa_1602911.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Men dream of courtship, but in wedlock wake.” — Alexander Pope", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Alexander Pope", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Men dream of courtship, but in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/men-dream-of-courtship-but-in-wedlock-wake/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/men-dream-of-courtship-but-in-wedlock-wake/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```