--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To be fair, he had never actually…" description: "\"“To be fair, he had never actually promised to be monogamous. That was my idea, and though I tried my hardest to convert him, the allure of other peopl..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bb/david-sedaris-333_monogamous_to-be-fair-he-had-never-actually-promise_326704.png" --- # To be fair, he had never actually promised to be… ![“To be fair, he had never actually promised to be monogamous. That was my idea, and though I tried my hardest to convert him, the allure of other people was just too great.” quote by David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bb/david-sedaris-333_monogamous_to-be-fair-he-had-never-actually-promise_326704.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bb/david-sedaris-333_monogamous_to-be-fair-he-had-never-actually-promise_326704.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bb/david-sedaris-333_monogamous_to-be-fair-he-had-never-actually-promise_326704.png) > ““To be fair, he had never actually promised to be monogamous. That was my idea, and though I tried my hardest to convert him, the allure of other people was just too great.”” [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He admits that his partner’s lack of commitment conflicted with his own expectations, highlighting the tension between desire and reality. **In simple terms:** He tried to make his partner monogamous but couldn’t change his nature. Key Takeaway Accept differing expectations and communicate openly. Themes relationships expectations honesty Mood candid humorous thought‑provoking Type personal reflective When to use this quote - dating - marriage counseling - friendship negotiations - personal boundaries Key Concepts sociology human behavior Questions to Reflect On - Are you imposing your values on others? - What compromises are realistic? A Different Perspective Assumes one can change another’s core desires. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Monogamous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monogamous/) [Monogamous Idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monogamous-idea-3067605/) [Promised](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/promised/) [Promised Monogamous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/promised-monogamous-3067604/) [Tried Hardest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tried-hardest-1169341/) ## Related quotes > [When I graduated from college, I tried my hardest to get a job at an accounting firm, and it just wasn't meant to be.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-coleman/when-i-graduated-from-college-i-tried-my-hardest-to-get-a-job-at-an/) [Ronnie Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-coleman/) > [I tried my hardest to be the opposite of a stereotypical Asian student.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-o-yang/i-tried-my-hardest-to-be-the-opposite-of-a-stereotypical-asian-student/) [Jimmy O. Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-o-yang/) > [I tried my hardest and people rewarded me with applause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfredo-di-stefano/i-tried-my-hardest-and-people-rewarded-me-with-applause/) [Alfredo Di Stefano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfredo-di-stefano/) > [Why is it every time I think I've tried my hardest, it turns out it ain't enough. You're still not mentionin' love? What am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adele/why-is-it-every-time-i-think-i-ve-tried-my-hardest-it-turns-out-it/) [Adele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adele/) > [Never quit because something went wrong; quit because you tried your hardest and nothing made it better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-quit-because-something-went-wrong-quit-because-you-tried-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you get beaten, and you know that you tried your hardest and kept your focus, then that's all you can do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-martin/if-you-get-beaten-and-you-know-that-you-tried-your-hardest-and-kept/) [Guy Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-martin/) > [The one who wins the race in the long run is usually not the strongest or the fastest, but the one who has tried…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-one-who-wins-the-race-in-the-long-run-is-usually-not-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I was always behind in class. There was people in my class who was amazing at art, amazing at maths, amazing at English, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-childs/i-was-always-behind-in-class-there-was-people-in-my-class-who-was/) [Amy Childs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-childs/) > [Don't quit because something went wrong. Quit because you tried your hardest and nothing made it better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/don-t-quit-because-something-went-wrong-quit-because-you-tried-your/) [Pacifiersucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pacifiersucker/) > [Give it your best shot. Go for it. If it's what you really want to do, go for it. Even if you don't make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carmen-rasmusen/give-it-your-best-shot-go-for-it-if-it-s-what-you-really-want-to-do/) [Carmen Rasmusen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carmen-rasmusen/) > [Homosexuals are not monogamous. They want to destroy the institution of marriage. It will destroy marriage. It will destroy the Earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dobson/homosexuals-are-not-monogamous-they-want-to-destroy-the-institution/) [James Dobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dobson/) > [I've never been monogamous. It might happen, but it never has yet. I don't understand women, I'm off that kick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-kartheiser/i-ve-never-been-monogamous-it-might-happen-but-it-never-has-yet-i-don/) [Vincent Kartheiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-kartheiser/) > [My mom is going to kill me for talking about sleeping with people. But I don't want to put myself in the position where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-lohan/my-mom-is-going-to-kill-me-for-talking-about-sleeping-with-people-but/) [Lindsay Lohan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-lohan/) > [“Marriage," "mating," and "love" are socially constructed phenomena that have little or no transferable meaning outside any given culture. The examples we've noted of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-ryan/marriage-mating-and-love-are-socially-constructed-phenomena-that-have/) [Christopher Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-ryan/) > [“In The Moral Animal, Robert Wright laments, "A basic underlying dynamic between men and women is mutual exploitation. They seem, at times, designed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cacilda-jeth/in-the-moral-animal-robert-wright-laments-a-basic-underlying-dynamic/) [Cacilda Jethá](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cacilda-jeth/) ## More by David Sedaris > [“Plenty of animals had pets, but few were more devoted than the mouse, who owned a baby corn snake—“A rescue snake, she’d be quick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/plenty-of-animals-had-pets-but-few-were-more-devoted-than-the-mouse/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [“never fall asleep in a Dumpster, never underestimate a bee, never drive a convertible behind a flatbed truck, never get old, never get drunk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/never-fall-asleep-in-a-dumpster-never-underestimate-a-bee-never-drive/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [“It was a father, one hand resting teapot-style on his hip, and the other - what would be the spout - formed into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/it-was-a-father-one-hand-resting-teapot-style-on-his-hip-and-the/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [“A Japanese woman we’d met in Paris came to the apartment yesterday and spent several hours explaining our appliances. The microwave, the water kettle,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/a-japanese-woman-we-d-met-in-paris-came-to-the-apartment-yesterday/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [One thing I like about the United States, and I kind of miss about the United States, is there's an election coming up here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/one-thing-i-like-about-the-united-states-and-i-kind-of-miss-about-the/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [When you read comic material and people aren't laughing how do you know they're listening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/when-you-read-comic-material-and-people-aren-t-laughing-how-do-you/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [“You have how many children in your family?" the teacher would ask. "I'm guessing you must be Catholic, am I right?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/you-have-how-many-children-in-your-family-the-teacher-would-ask-i-m/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [“Like most seasoned phonies, I roundly suspect that everyone is as disingenuous as I am.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/like-most-seasoned-phonies-i-roundly-suspect-that-everyone-is-as/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [As a child I assumed that when I reached adulthood, I would have grown-up thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/as-a-child-i-assumed-that-when-i-reached-adulthood-i-would-have-grown/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [“You just take and take don´t you? Out there with your thumb in the air—not a care in the world, just grabbing whatever you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/you-just-take-and-take-don-t-you-out-there-with-your-thumb-in-the-air/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [In other parts of the country people tried to stay together for the sake of the children. In New York they tried to work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/in-other-parts-of-the-country-people-tried-to-stay-together-for-the/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [My boyfriend got me a computer three years ago. I'll admit it does make things a lot easier. When I was working on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/my-boyfriend-got-me-a-computer-three-years-ago-i-ll-admit-it-does/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [I spent months searching for some secret code before I realized that common sense has nothing to do with it. Hysteria, psychosis, torture, depression:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/i-spent-months-searching-for-some-secret-code-before-i-realized-that/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [I hated leaving a hole in the smoking world, and so I recruited someone to take my place. People have given me a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/i-hated-leaving-a-hole-in-the-smoking-world-and-so-i-recruited/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [Write relentlessly, until you find your voice. Then, use it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/write-relentlessly-until-you-find-your-voice-then-use-it/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) [Explore all 667 David Sedaris quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) ## More Monogamous quotes > [“In The Moral Animal, Robert Wright laments, "A basic underlying dynamic between men and women is mutual exploitation. They seem, at times, designed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cacilda-jeth/in-the-moral-animal-robert-wright-laments-a-basic-underlying-dynamic/) [Cacilda Jethá](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cacilda-jeth/) > [“Marriage," "mating," and "love" are socially constructed phenomena that have little or no transferable meaning outside any given culture. The examples we've noted of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-ryan/marriage-mating-and-love-are-socially-constructed-phenomena-that-have/) [Christopher Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-ryan/) > [My mom is going to kill me for talking about sleeping with people. But I don't want to put myself in the position where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-lohan/my-mom-is-going-to-kill-me-for-talking-about-sleeping-with-people-but/) [Lindsay Lohan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-lohan/) > [I've never been monogamous. It might happen, but it never has yet. I don't understand women, I'm off that kick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-kartheiser/i-ve-never-been-monogamous-it-might-happen-but-it-never-has-yet-i-don/) [Vincent Kartheiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-kartheiser/) > [Homosexuals are not monogamous. They want to destroy the institution of marriage. It will destroy marriage. It will destroy the Earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dobson/homosexuals-are-not-monogamous-they-want-to-destroy-the-institution/) [James Dobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dobson/) > [Do I think human beings are meant to be in 40-year-long monogamous, faithful, relationships? No, No, No. Whoever said they were? Only the Bible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-grant/do-i-think-human-beings-are-meant-to-be-in-40-year-long-monogamous/) [Hugh Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-grant/) > [I'm monogamous from time to time, but I prefer polygamy and polyandry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-bruni/i-m-monogamous-from-time-to-time-but-i-prefer-polygamy-and-polyandry/) [Carla Bruni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-bruni/) > [“Was he a bad man or just a foolish one? He didn't feel bad to himself. As a husband he believed himself to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-jacobson/was-he-a-bad-man-or-just-a-foolish-one-he-didn-t-feel-bad-to-himself/) [Howard Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-jacobson/) > [The highest level of sexual excitement is in a monogamous relationship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-beatty/the-highest-level-of-sexual-excitement-is-in-a-monogamous-relationship/) [Warren Beatty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-beatty/) > [“A DOZEN PHALLACIES WOMEN BUY Phallacy 1. If he loves me, he'll be faithful forever. Truth His loving you has nothing to do with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/a-dozen-phallacies-women-buy-phallacy-1-if-he-loves-me-he-ll-be/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [When I was in my early twenties, I fell in love at least 20 times a day. You have to be with someone where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-van-booy/when-i-was-in-my-early-twenties-i-fell-in-love-at-least-20-times-a/) [Simon Van Booy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-van-booy/) > [The mistake that straight people made was imposing the monogamous expectation on men. Men were never expected to be monogamous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/the-mistake-that-straight-people-made-was-imposing-the-monogamous/) [Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/) > [People should be allowed the freedom to make their own choices. They should be able to buy or not buy porn and be monogamous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-brown/people-should-be-allowed-the-freedom-to-make-their-own-choices-they/) [Chester Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-brown/) > [I do think on some basic level we are animals and by instinct we kind of breed accordingly. But, as much as I believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-johansson/i-do-think-on-some-basic-level-we-are-animals-and-by-instinct-we-kind/) [Scarlett Johansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-johansson/) > [You know, I feel like people in this country who feel really strongly about a man and a woman being the only -- the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-jessica-parker/you-know-i-feel-like-people-in-this-country-who-feel-really-strongly/) [Sarah Jessica Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-jessica-parker/) [Browse all 115 Monogamous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monogamous/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“To be fair, he had never actually promised to be monogamous. That was my idea, and though I tried my hardest to convert him, the allure of other people was just too great.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David Sedaris" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/to-be-fair-he-had-never-actually-promised-to-be-monogamous-that-was/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Monogamous" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/to-be-fair-he-had-never-actually-promised-to-be-monogamous-that-was/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bb/david-sedaris-333_monogamous_to-be-fair-he-had-never-actually-promise_326704.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bb/david-sedaris-333_monogamous_to-be-fair-he-had-never-actually-promise_326704.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bb/david-sedaris-333_monogamous_to-be-fair-he-had-never-actually-promise_326704.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To be fair, he had never actually promised to be monogamous. That was my idea, and though I tried my hardest…” — David Sedaris", "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": "David Sedaris", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“To be fair, he had never...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/to-be-fair-he-had-never-actually-promised-to-be-monogamous-that-was/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/to-be-fair-he-had-never-actually-promised-to-be-monogamous-that-was/#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 } } ] } ```