Love Quote by Coventry Patmore
““The Angel in the House" Man must be pleased; but him to please Is woman's pleasure; down the gulf Of his condoled necessities She casts her best, she flings herself. How often flings for nought, and yokes Her heart to an icicle or whim, Whose each impatient word provokes Another, not from her, but him; While she, too gentle even to force His penitence by kind replies, Waits by, expecting his remorse, With pardon in her pitying eyes; And if he once, by shame oppress'd, A comfortable word confers, She leans and weeps against his breast, And seems to think the sin was hers; Or any eye to see her charms, At any time, she's still his wife, Dearly devoted to his arms; She loves with love that cannot tire; And when, ah woe, she loves alone, Through passionate duty love springs higher, As grass grows taller round a stone.””
About This Quote
Source Poem: “The Angel in the House” by Coventry Patmore, 1854
A woman strives to please her husband, sacrificing her own desires, while his expectations and guilt shape their relationship.
In simple terms: A woman gives herself to please a man, often losing herself.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and balance mutual needs in partnership.
Themes
gender roles
sacrifice
expectations
love
guilt
Mood
reflective
melancholic
Type
poetic
feminist
When to use this quote
- marriage counseling
- relationship workshops
- personal boundaries
- self‑care practices
Key Concepts
feminist critique
emotional labor
patriarchal norms
Questions to Reflect On
- How can partners share emotional labor equally?
- What boundaries protect personal identity in love?
A Different Perspective
May overlook the woman's agency and reduce her to a passive role.
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