--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Conventional wisdom tells us we'll only…" description: "\"Conventional wisdom tells us we'll only be happier after a divorce if the marriage itself was a war zone.\" — Ariel Gore" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec5/ariel-gore-16108_conventional_conventional-wisdom-tells-us-we-ll-only_119287.png" --- # Conventional wisdom tells us we'll only be happier after a… ![“Conventional wisdom tells us we'll only be happier after a divorce if the marriage itself was a war zone.” quote by Ariel Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec5/ariel-gore-16108_conventional_conventional-wisdom-tells-us-we-ll-only_119287.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec5/ariel-gore-16108_conventional_conventional-wisdom-tells-us-we-ll-only_119287.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec5/ariel-gore-16108_conventional_conventional-wisdom-tells-us-we-ll-only_119287.png) > “Conventional wisdom tells us we'll only be happier after a divorce if the marriage itself was a war zone.” [Ariel Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-gore/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Divorce may bring relief only when the marriage was highly conflictual; otherwise happiness is not guaranteed. **In simple terms:** Happiness after divorce depends on marriage quality. Key Takeaway Relief is conditional on prior conflict. Themes relationships divorce well‑being conflict Mood pragmatic thoughtful Type relationship advice When to use this quote - counseling sessions - post‑divorce support groups Key Concepts psychological relief post‑marital adjustment Practical Applications - assess marital health before assuming divorce will improve happiness Questions to Reflect On - What signs indicate a marriage is a 'war zone'? - How can individuals gauge whether divorce will enhance their well‑being? A Different Perspective Even in non‑war‑zone marriages, divorce can still improve quality of life. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conventional wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conventional-wisdom/) [Divorce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divorce/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [War zone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-zone/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [In marriage, as in war, it is permitted to take every advantage of the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/in-marriage-as-in-war-it-is-permitted-to-take-every-advantage-of-the/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Marriage is the only war where one sleeps with the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-lee/marriage-is-the-only-war-where-one-sleeps-with-the-enemy/) [Tommy Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-lee/) > [“And then all this talk of love and marriage out of nowhere? It's the war talking. I know; I've seen it. They head off,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-brockmole/and-then-all-this-talk-of-love-and-marriage-out-of-nowhere-it-s-the/) [Jessica Brockmole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-brockmole/) > [Marriage is the only war in which you sleep with the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/marriage-is-the-only-war-in-which-you-sleep-with-the-enemy/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In both marriage and war you must cut up the things people say like a cake and eat only what you can stomach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/in-both-marriage-and-war-you-must-cut-up-the-things-people-say-like-a/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“We lose more women to marriage than war, famine, and disease.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smith-dodie/we-lose-more-women-to-marriage-than-war-famine-and-disease/) Smith Dodie > [When you're used to being prepared to reject conventional wisdom, it leaves you open to learn more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mayim-bialik/when-you-re-used-to-being-prepared-to-reject-conventional-wisdom-it/) [Mayim Bialik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mayim-bialik/) > [“Conventional wisdom is not always wrong—but it’s always suspect.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-webb/conventional-wisdom-is-not-always-wrong-but-it-s-always-suspect/) [Brandon Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-webb/) > [The line that I am urging as today's conventional wisdom is not a denial of consciousness. It is often called, with more reason, arepudiation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willard-van-orman-quine/the-line-that-i-am-urging-as-today-s-conventional-wisdom-is-not-a/) [Willard Van Orman Quine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willard-van-orman-quine/) > [Conventional wisdom on government's role in inequality often has it backwards. Tax reforms have resulted in a more progressive federal income tax; government transfer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/conventional-wisdom-on-government-s-role-in-inequality-often-has-it/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [All conventional wisdom has an element of truth to it, but good design requires more than an element of truth - it requires an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-petroski/all-conventional-wisdom-has-an-element-of-truth-to-it-but-good-design/) [Henry Petroski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-petroski/) > [Hurricane Katrina overwhelmed levees and exploded the conventional wisdom about a shared American prosperity, exposing a group of people so poor they didn't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/hurricane-katrina-overwhelmed-levees-and-exploded-the-conventional/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [What's different now is that while political leaders used to give talking points to talk radio, now talk-radio hosts are giving talking points to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-avlon/what-s-different-now-is-that-while-political-leaders-used-to-give/) [John Avlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-avlon/) > [Contrarian thinking at its best simply asks, Is this really true? It speaks up when the politically correct answer or the conventional wisdom doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-osborne/contrarian-thinking-at-its-best-simply-asks-is-this-really-true-it/) [Larry Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-osborne/) > [Whether you are buying a car or casting a ballot, choosing a job or planning a family, follow your moral compass. Don't let others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-hayes/whether-you-are-buying-a-car-or-casting-a-ballot-choosing-a-job-or/) [Denis Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-hayes/) ## More by Ariel Gore > [“When we strike a balance between the challenge of an activity and our skill at performing it, when the rhythm of the work itself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-gore/when-we-strike-a-balance-between-the-challenge-of-an-activity-and-our/) [Ariel Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-gore/) > [When you study postpartum depression, there is a very clear understanding that in communities where you see more support, there is less depression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-gore/when-you-study-postpartum-depression-there-is-a-very-clear/) [Ariel Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-gore/) > [I don't know if my mother was a narcissist - or bi-polar or borderline. Those were words she tossed around over the years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-gore/i-don-t-know-if-my-mother-was-a-narcissist-or-bi-polar-or-borderline/) [Ariel Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-gore/) > [“No one ever does the last thing on their list.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-gore/no-one-ever-does-the-last-thing-on-their-list/) [Ariel Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-gore/) > [My own habit had always been to write about the things that ticked me off in a given day. If I kept a journal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-gore/my-own-habit-had-always-been-to-write-about-the-things-that-ticked-me/) [Ariel Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-gore/) > [I think there are different kinds of happiness. We know when we're happy a lot of the time, but then there are those moments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-gore/i-think-there-are-different-kinds-of-happiness-we-know-when-we-re/) [Ariel Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-gore/) > [Some caregivers want to reciprocate the care they themselves received as children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-gore/some-caregivers-want-to-reciprocate-the-care-they-themselves-received/) [Ariel Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-gore/) > [“I wanted to be a writer, so I became one. How? I wrote things down.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-gore/i-wanted-to-be-a-writer-so-i-became-one-how-i-wrote-things-down/) [Ariel Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-gore/) > [ “Poet' had always sounded like a profession to me, or a talent. But the dead American \[Muriel Rukeyser, The Life of Poetry\] made it… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-gore/poet-had-always-sounded-like-a-profession-to-me-or-a-talent-but-the/) [Ariel Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-gore/) > [In my experience, staying in a marriage that my ex and I both agreed had all its best moments behind it was epically depressing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-gore/in-my-experience-staying-in-a-marriage-that-my-ex-and-i-both-agreed/) [Ariel Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-gore/) > [I always do like seeing other people dance in their cars. It's one of the things that makes me happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-gore/i-always-do-like-seeing-other-people-dance-in-their-cars-it-s-one-of/) [Ariel Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-gore/) > [Maybe it goes without saying that if you want to become a famous writer before you’re dead, you’ll have to write something. But the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-gore/maybe-it-goes-without-saying-that-if-you-want-to-become-a-famous/) [Ariel Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-gore/) > [Your heart is the size of your fist; keep loving, keep fighting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-gore/your-heart-is-the-size-of-your-fist-keep-loving-keep-fighting/) [Ariel Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-gore/) > [New Agers have always told us that we create our own realities. Mind over matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-gore/new-agers-have-always-told-us-that-we-create-our-own-realities-mind/) [Ariel Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-gore/) > [They say change gets more difficult as we get older - each year we're more stuck in our ways, more reluctant to learn something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-gore/they-say-change-gets-more-difficult-as-we-get-older-each-year-we-re/) [Ariel Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-gore/) [Explore all 41 Ariel Gore quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-gore/) ## More Conventional quotes > [Whether you are buying a car or casting a ballot, choosing a job or planning a family, follow your moral compass. Don't let others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-hayes/whether-you-are-buying-a-car-or-casting-a-ballot-choosing-a-job-or/) [Denis Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-hayes/) > [A language possesses utility only insofar as it can construct conventional boundaries. A language of no boundaries is no language at all, and thus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-wilber/a-language-possesses-utility-only-insofar-as-it-can-construct/) [Ken Wilber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-wilber/) > [Conventional agriculture has never succeeded in feeding the world, and it's never produced anything good to eat. For the future, we need to look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-barber/conventional-agriculture-has-never-succeeded-in-feeding-the-world-and/) [Dan Barber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-barber/) > [Contrarian thinking at its best simply asks, Is this really true? It speaks up when the politically correct answer or the conventional wisdom doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-osborne/contrarian-thinking-at-its-best-simply-asks-is-this-really-true-it/) [Larry Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-osborne/) > [Because investors are not usually penalized for adhering to conventional practices, doing so is the less professionally risky strategy, even though it virtually guarantees…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-klarman/because-investors-are-not-usually-penalized-for-adhering-to/) [Seth Klarman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-klarman/) > [My father was in real estate, banking, and land management. As family life, it was very conventional, happy, and comfortable. We weren't wealthy, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-child/my-father-was-in-real-estate-banking-and-land-management-as-family/) [Julia Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-child/) > [Our Christian faith is actually very subversive of the conventional notion of success - the notion that what invests a person with worth is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/our-christian-faith-is-actually-very-subversive-of-the-conventional/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [I think you will learn to be natural with me, as I find it impossible to be conventional with you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/i-think-you-will-learn-to-be-natural-with-me-as-i-find-it-impossible/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [What's different now is that while political leaders used to give talking points to talk radio, now talk-radio hosts are giving talking points to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-avlon/what-s-different-now-is-that-while-political-leaders-used-to-give/) [John Avlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-avlon/) > [Some days, I think maybe we should try and be a little more conventional, but every time I try, I fail, so I'm learning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seinabo-sey/some-days-i-think-maybe-we-should-try-and-be-a-little-more/) [Seinabo Sey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seinabo-sey/) > [The vision of extraordinary achievement is,by definition, a few steps beyond consensus and conventional logic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-belsky/the-vision-of-extraordinary-achievement-is-by-definition-a-few-steps/) [Scott Belsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-belsky/) > [“Can you make me remember the conventional way?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-ellen-malpas/can-you-make-me-remember-the-conventional-way/) [Jodi Ellen Malpas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-ellen-malpas/) > [Nobody can live in society without conventions. The reason why sensible people are as conventional as they can bear to be is that conventionality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/nobody-can-live-in-society-without-conventions-the-reason-why/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [Currency speculation-over a trillion dollars a day-is a tax-free activity. The notion of a tax on "day trades" or other speculative swaps was revived…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-kierans/currency-speculation-over-a-trillion-dollars-a-day-is-a-tax-free/) [Eric Kierans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-kierans/) > [Fear is a problem with film music and films; people want to be conventional, and there's more commercialism today. If you are not daring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-north/fear-is-a-problem-with-film-music-and-films-people-want-to-be/) [Alex North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-north/) Browse all 742 Conventional quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Conventional wisdom tells us we'll only be happier after a divorce if the marriage itself was a war zone.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ariel Gore" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-gore/conventional-wisdom-tells-us-we-ll-only-be-happier-after-a-divorce-if/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Conventional" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-gore/conventional-wisdom-tells-us-we-ll-only-be-happier-after-a-divorce-if/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec5/ariel-gore-16108_conventional_conventional-wisdom-tells-us-we-ll-only_119287.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec5/ariel-gore-16108_conventional_conventional-wisdom-tells-us-we-ll-only_119287.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec5/ariel-gore-16108_conventional_conventional-wisdom-tells-us-we-ll-only_119287.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Conventional wisdom tells us we'll only be happier after a divorce if the marriage itself was a war zone.” — Ariel Gore", "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": "Ariel Gore", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-gore/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Conventional wisdom tells us we'll only...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-gore/conventional-wisdom-tells-us-we-ll-only-be-happier-after-a-divorce-if/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-gore/conventional-wisdom-tells-us-we-ll-only-be-happier-after-a-divorce-if/#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 } } ] } ```