--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Speaking as somebody who has been happily…" description: "\"Speaking as somebody who has been happily married for 35 years, I can't imagine any choice more consequential for a lifelong journey than the choice of..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b74/ben-bernanke-1388_choices_speaking-as-somebody-who-has-been-happil_418993.png" --- # Speaking as somebody who has been happily married for 35… ![“Speaking as somebody who has been happily married for 35 years, I can't imagine any choice more consequential for a lifelong journey than the choice of a traveling companion.” quote by Ben Bernanke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b74/ben-bernanke-1388_choices_speaking-as-somebody-who-has-been-happil_418993.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b74/ben-bernanke-1388_choices_speaking-as-somebody-who-has-been-happil_418993.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b74/ben-bernanke-1388_choices_speaking-as-somebody-who-has-been-happil_418993.png) > “Speaking as somebody who has been happily married for 35 years, I can't imagine any choice more consequential for a lifelong journey than the choice of a traveling companion.” [Ben Bernanke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bernanke/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing a life partner is the most consequential decision for a shared lifelong journey. **In simple terms:** Partner choice shapes life direction. Key Takeaway Prioritize compatible companionship. Themes relationships commitment life choices Mood reflective optimistic Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - marriage counseling - career planning - family decisions Key Concepts marriage compatibility long‑term planning Questions to Reflect On - What values matter most in a lifelong partner? - How do you nurture shared growth? A Different Perspective Companion choice alone cannot guarantee happiness; other factors matter. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Companion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/companion/) [Happily married](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happily-married/) [Journey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journey/) [Lifelong journey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lifelong-journey/) [Long journey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-journey/) [Travel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/travel/) ## Related quotes > [ \[In 2004 on being at TBWA Chiat Day for 30 years.\] Different people are different in terms of the way they're made. I knew… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-clow/in-2004-on-being-at-tbwa-chiat-day-for-30-years-different-people-are/) [Lee Clow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-clow/) > [You don't stay married for 35 years by accident. I think that that's willful and intentional and something that both people really want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-judd/you-don-t-stay-married-for-35-years-by-accident-i-think-that-that-s/) [Ashley Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-judd/) > [If I have the choice of traveling to Russia, India or New Zealand alone for a week for preliminary discussions or to spend that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olafur-eliasson/if-i-have-the-choice-of-traveling-to-russia-india-or-new-zealand/) [Olafur Eliasson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olafur-eliasson/) > [I shouldn't have got married. My dad told me. I was 35 and I got married. He said, 'You're too young to be married'.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-stewart/i-shouldn-t-have-got-married-my-dad-told-me-i-was-35-and-i-got/) [Rod Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-stewart/) > [In traveling, a companion, in life, compassion,'" she repeats, making sure of it. If she had paper and pencil, it wouldn't surprise me if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/in-traveling-a-companion-in-life-compassion-she-repeats-making-sure/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [Hope is a pleasant acquaintance, but an unsafe friend, not the man for your banker, though he may do for a traveling companion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chandler-haliburton/hope-is-a-pleasant-acquaintance-but-an-unsafe-friend-not-the-man-for/) [Thomas Chandler Haliburton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chandler-haliburton/) > [An unanswered question is a fine traveling companion. It sharpens your eye for the road.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-naomi-remen/an-unanswered-question-is-a-fine-traveling-companion-it-sharpens-your/) [Rachel Naomi Remen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-naomi-remen/) > [“In traveling, a companion, in life, compassion…So what does that really mean? In simple terms." "I think it means...that chance encounters are what keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/in-traveling-a-companion-in-life-compassion-so-what-does-that-really/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [“Your traveling companion, the soldier, is well trained. The two of you were planning something, weren't you?" "Planning what? An evil scheme to steal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/summer-lane/your-traveling-companion-the-soldier-is-well-trained-the-two-of-you/) [Summer Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/summer-lane/) > [A pleasant traveling companion on a journey is as good as a carriage. Each day is the scholar of yesterday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/a-pleasant-traveling-companion-on-a-journey-is-as-good-as-a-carriage/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [In traveling, a companion, in life, compassion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/in-traveling-a-companion-in-life-compassion/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [“have for a traveling companion James Quayle”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-sibert-cather/have-for-a-traveling-companion-james-quayle/) Willa Sibert Cather > [It's easier to find a traveling companion than to get rid of one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peg-bracken/it-s-easier-to-find-a-traveling-companion-than-to-get-rid-of-one/) [Peg Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peg-bracken/) > [Age is a bad traveling companion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/english-proverb/age-is-a-bad-traveling-companion/) English Proverb > [“May all that I know apart from You be nothing more than a chance traveling companion on the journey toward You.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/may-all-that-i-know-apart-from-you-be-nothing-more-than-a-chance/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) ## More by Ben Bernanke > [If Wall Street crashes, does Main Street follow? Not necessarily.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bernanke/if-wall-street-crashes-does-main-street-follow-not-necessarily/) [Ben Bernanke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bernanke/) > [The Federal Reserve is not currently forecasting a recession.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bernanke/the-federal-reserve-is-not-currently-forecasting-a-recession/) [Ben Bernanke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bernanke/) > [We do not expect significant spillovers from the subprime market to the rest of the economy or to the financial system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bernanke/we-do-not-expect-significant-spillovers-from-the-subprime-market-to/) [Ben Bernanke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bernanke/) > [In the past, Federal Reserve chairmen have not generally gone directly to the public.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bernanke/in-the-past-federal-reserve-chairmen-have-not-generally-gone-directly/) [Ben Bernanke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bernanke/) > [The U.S. government has a technology, called a printing press (or, today, its electronic equivalent), that allows it to produce as many U.S. dollars…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bernanke/the-u-s-government-has-a-technology-called-a-printing-press-or-today/) [Ben Bernanke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bernanke/) > [The Depression was an incredibly dramatic episode - an era of stock-market crashes, breadlines, bank runs and wild currency speculation, with the storm clouds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bernanke/the-depression-was-an-incredibly-dramatic-episode-an-era-of-stock/) [Ben Bernanke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bernanke/) > [Community development has a long history of innovation and learning from experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bernanke/community-development-has-a-long-history-of-innovation-and-learning/) [Ben Bernanke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bernanke/) > [To be sure, the provision of liquidity alone can by no means solve the problems of credit risk and credit losses; but it can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bernanke/to-be-sure-the-provision-of-liquidity-alone-can-by-no-means-solve-the/) [Ben Bernanke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bernanke/) > [Consumers going through foreclosure typically will see their credit scores drop, raising longer-term questions about their ability to rebound financially and perhaps pursue a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bernanke/consumers-going-through-foreclosure-typically-will-see-their-credit/) [Ben Bernanke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bernanke/) > [If you are not happy with yourself, even the loftiest achievements won't bring you much satisfaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bernanke/if-you-are-not-happy-with-yourself-even-the-loftiest-achievements-won/) [Ben Bernanke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bernanke/) > [High levels of homeownership have been shown to foster greater involvement in school and civic organizations, higher graduation rates, and greater neighborhood stability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bernanke/high-levels-of-homeownership-have-been-shown-to-foster-greater/) [Ben Bernanke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bernanke/) > [...the Federal Reserve has the capacity to operate in domestic money markets to maintain interest rates at a level consistent with our economic goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bernanke/the-federal-reserve-has-the-capacity-to-operate-in-domestic-money/) [Ben Bernanke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bernanke/) > [The Federal Reserve will not monetize the debt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bernanke/the-federal-reserve-will-not-monetize-the-debt/) [Ben Bernanke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bernanke/) > [To avoid large and unsustainable budget deficits, the nation will ultimately have to choose among higher taxes, modifications to entitlement programs such as Social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bernanke/to-avoid-large-and-unsustainable-budget-deficits-the-nation-will/) [Ben Bernanke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bernanke/) > [The U.S. government has a technology, called a printing press (or today, its electronic equivalent), that allows it to produce as many U.S. dollars…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bernanke/the-u-s-government-has-a-technology-called-a-printing-press-or-today-2/) [Ben Bernanke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bernanke/) [Explore all 247 Ben Bernanke quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bernanke/) ## More Choices quotes > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/) [Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/) > [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/) Alison James > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) Pancho Barnes > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Movies have power. Power to impact society and the choices we make. I want to entertain, but I also want to say something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-prince-bythewood/movies-have-power-power-to-impact-society-and-the-choices-we-make-i/) [Gina Prince-Bythewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-prince-bythewood/) > [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [Clarissa," he said, "here with the vampire, I see. When things have settled a bit, we really must discuss you choice in pets..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/clarissa-he-said-here-with-the-vampire-i-see-when-things-have-settled/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Change is inevitable but personal growth is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/change-is-inevitable-but-personal-growth-is-a-choice/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Act always so as to increase the number of choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinz-von-foerster/act-always-so-as-to-increase-the-number-of-choices/) [Heinz von Foerster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinz-von-foerster/) > [Give me a platter of choice finnan haddie, freshly cooked in its bath of water and milk, add melted butter, a slice or two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-claiborne/give-me-a-platter-of-choice-finnan-haddie-freshly-cooked-in-its-bath/) [Craig Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-claiborne/) > [I don't know that any woman could ever not think about that at some point - even making the choice not to do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-watts/i-don-t-know-that-any-woman-could-ever-not-think-about-that-at-some/) [Naomi Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-watts/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) [Browse all 11,466 Choices quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Speaking as somebody who has been happily married for 35 years, I can't imagine any choice more consequential for a lifelong journey than the choice of a traveling companion.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ben Bernanke" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bernanke/speaking-as-somebody-who-has-been-happily-married-for-35-years-i-can/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Choices" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bernanke/speaking-as-somebody-who-has-been-happily-married-for-35-years-i-can/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b74/ben-bernanke-1388_choices_speaking-as-somebody-who-has-been-happil_418993.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b74/ben-bernanke-1388_choices_speaking-as-somebody-who-has-been-happil_418993.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b74/ben-bernanke-1388_choices_speaking-as-somebody-who-has-been-happil_418993.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Speaking as somebody who has been happily married for 35 years, I can't imagine any choice more…” — Ben Bernanke", "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": "Ben Bernanke", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bernanke/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Speaking as somebody who has been...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bernanke/speaking-as-somebody-who-has-been-happily-married-for-35-years-i-can/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bernanke/speaking-as-somebody-who-has-been-happily-married-for-35-years-i-can/#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 } } ] } ```