--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I do not think that marriage is one of my…" description: "\"I do not think that marriage is one of my talents. I've been much happier unmarried than married.\" — Doris Lessing" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cba/doris-lessing-501_marriage_i-do-not-think-that-marriage-is-one-of-m_85199.png" --- # I do not think that marriage is one of my talents. I've… ![“I do not think that marriage is one of my talents. I've been much happier unmarried than married.” quote by Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cba/doris-lessing-501_marriage_i-do-not-think-that-marriage-is-one-of-m_85199.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cba/doris-lessing-501_marriage_i-do-not-think-that-marriage-is-one-of-m_85199.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cba/doris-lessing-501_marriage_i-do-not-think-that-marriage-is-one-of-m_85199.png) > “I do not think that marriage is one of my talents. I've been much happier unmarried than married.” [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker asserts that marriage does not align with their personal strengths, finding greater fulfillment in remaining single. **In simple terms:** Personal fulfillment over societal expectations Key Takeaway Self-awareness of relational suitability Themes individualism relationship dynamics personal happiness societal norms Mood reflective defiant thoughtful Type personal anecdote philosophical observation When to use this quote - career-focused life - post-divorce reflection - cultural critique - personal life planning Key Concepts marriage talent happiness Practical Applications - relationship counseling - life coaching Questions to Reflect On - What does it mean to be 'talented' at a relationship? - How can one assess personal compatibility with marriage? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Unmarried couples should get married - that's an excellent tax avoidance measure, if a bit drastic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-whiting/unmarried-couples-should-get-married-that-s-an-excellent-tax/) John Whiting > [Loneliness has little to do with what we do or where we do it, whether we're married or unmarried, optimists or pessimists, heterosexual or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-williams/loneliness-has-little-to-do-with-what-we-do-or-where-we-do-it-whether/) [Rowan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-williams/) > [It is a woman's business to get married as soon as possible, and a man's to keep unmarried as long as he can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/it-is-a-woman-s-business-to-get-married-as-soon-as-possible-and-a-man/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [Motherhood is so honorable a thing that nothing - no convention - can possibly make it dishonorable; and from the standpoint of the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-lindsey/motherhood-is-so-honorable-a-thing-that-nothing-no-convention-can/) [Ben Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-lindsey/) > [I never say never. Its whatever Gods will is. But I hope so. I think marriage is a beautiful thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacey-dash/i-never-say-never-its-whatever-gods-will-is-but-i-hope-so-i-think/) [Stacey Dash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacey-dash/) > [I'd love to have children, and I think marriage is great, I really do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-jason-leigh/i-d-love-to-have-children-and-i-think-marriage-is-great-i-really-do/) [Jennifer Jason Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-jason-leigh/) > [I think marriage works for some people, but I just don't think it could work for me. I don't see it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romeo-santos/i-think-marriage-works-for-some-people-but-i-just-don-t-think-it/) [Romeo Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romeo-santos/) > [Let a man do what he will by a single woman, the world is encouragingly apt to think Marriage a sufficient amends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-richardson/let-a-man-do-what-he-will-by-a-single-woman-the-world-is/) [Samuel Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-richardson/) > [“It is unwise to think that marriage will bring an end to your emotional problems.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ugochi-oritsejolomisan/it-is-unwise-to-think-that-marriage-will-bring-an-end-to-your/) Ugochi Oritsejolomisan > [I've made it abundantly clear that I think that marriage is between a man and a woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-handel/i-ve-made-it-abundantly-clear-that-i-think-that-marriage-is-between-a/) [Karen Handel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-handel/) > [“Helen,' said she, after a thoughtful silence, 'do you ever think about marriage?' 'Yes, aunt, often.' 'And do you ever contemplate the possibility of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/helen-said-she-after-a-thoughtful-silence-do-you-ever-think-about/) [Anne Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [If you think marriage is gonna be easy, don't do it because when there are children involved, you screw up the rest of society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-deyoung/if-you-think-marriage-is-gonna-be-easy-don-t-do-it-because-when-there/) [Dennis DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-deyoung/) > [I think that the marriage of academic medical centers and academicians with the private sector is a very, is a marriage made in heaven…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-glimcher/i-think-that-the-marriage-of-academic-medical-centers-and/) [Laurie Glimcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-glimcher/) > [Vivek is a very supportive man. If I am in the kitchen doing something, he comes and helps. I don't think marriage will change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divyanka-tripathi/vivek-is-a-very-supportive-man-if-i-am-in-the-kitchen-doing-something/) [Divyanka Tripathi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divyanka-tripathi/) > [Sometimes I think marriage licenses should be like driver's licenses. They expire after a number of years, and in order to keep going you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-mccarthy/sometimes-i-think-marriage-licenses-should-be-like-driver-s-licenses/) [Jenny McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-mccarthy/) ## More by Doris Lessing > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [“In the morning, when she wishes me to wake, she crouches on my chest, and pats my face with her paw. Or, if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/in-the-morning-when-she-wishes-me-to-wake-she-crouches-on-my-chest/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [You know, whenever women make imaginary female kingdoms in literature, they are always very permissive, to use the jargon word, and easy and generous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/you-know-whenever-women-make-imaginary-female-kingdoms-in-literature/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [There is only one real sin and that is to persuade oneself that the second best is anything but second best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/there-is-only-one-real-sin-and-that-is-to-persuade-oneself-that-the/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [“She was using the water as she had used the fruit earlier—to calm herself, to assure herself of the possibility of normality. Yet all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/she-was-using-the-water-as-she-had-used-the-fruit-earlier-to-calm/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [I remember World War II when there were very few books, very little paper available. For me to walk into a shop or look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/i-remember-world-war-ii-when-there-were-very-few-books-very-little/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [They can't give a Nobel to someone who's dead so I think they were probably thinking they had better give it to me now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/they-can-t-give-a-nobel-to-someone-who-s-dead-so-i-think-they-were/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [“While she strode rapidly through the ward to the door at the other end, she was able to see that every bed or cot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/while-she-strode-rapidly-through-the-ward-to-the-door-at-the-other/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [I haven't got the energy to write now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/i-haven-t-got-the-energy-to-write-now/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [What really fascinates me is this need that is so strong now that if you read a work of the imagination you instantly have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/what-really-fascinates-me-is-this-need-that-is-so-strong-now-that-if/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [“The charge that the United Nations are using bacteriological warfare in Korea cannot be dismissed merely because it would be insane.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/the-charge-that-the-united-nations-are-using-bacteriological-warfare/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [What I did have, which others perhaps didn't, was a capacity for sticking at it, which really is the point, not the talent at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/what-i-did-have-which-others-perhaps-didn-t-was-a-capacity-for/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [The human community is evolving... . We can survive anything you care to mention. We are supremely equipped to survive, to adapt and even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/the-human-community-is-evolving-we-can-survive-anything-you-care-to/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [So love is rest? The cosy corner? The little nook? Sometimes it ought to be. Sometimes it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/so-love-is-rest-the-cosy-corner-the-little-nook-sometimes-it-ought-to/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [Living in a small town anywhere means preserving one's self behind a mask.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/living-in-a-small-town-anywhere-means-preserving-one-s-self-behind-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) [Explore all 508 Doris Lessing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) ## More Marriage quotes > [Unmarried couples should get married - that's an excellent tax avoidance measure, if a bit drastic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-whiting/unmarried-couples-should-get-married-that-s-an-excellent-tax/) John Whiting > [I know for my wife and I, we always loved the idea of being young parents. It is an incredibly inspiring and challenging job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hanson/i-know-for-my-wife-and-i-we-always-loved-the-idea-of-being-young/) [Taylor Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hanson/) > [I cannot forbid a person to marry several wives, for it does not contradict Scripture. MARTIN LUTHER, letter to Chancellor Gregory Brück, January 13,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/i-cannot-forbid-a-person-to-marry-several-wives-for-it-does-not/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [I don't like being away from home. That's one reason why I don't work as much as I used to \[when I started my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-powell/i-don-t-like-being-away-from-home-that-s-one-reason-why-i-don-t-work/) [Jane Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-powell/) > [Luckily, the bullet that hit my chest never got to me. It was stopped by a silver case I got for my brother's wedding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-doohan/luckily-the-bullet-that-hit-my-chest-never-got-to-me-it-was-stopped/) [James Doohan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-doohan/) > [Do you think that God would separate me from my husband if I killed myself? I feel as though I am going out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-you-think-that-god-would-separate-me-from-my-husband-if-i-killed/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The thing about hitting kids is, think about if you were doing the same thing to another adult. Hitting your kid is really the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-thing-about-hitting-kids-is-think-about-if-you-were-doing-the/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [“Take an interest in his appearance. Keeping his clothes in order is your job; encouraging him to look his best, and admiring him when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-baker/take-an-interest-in-his-appearance-keeping-his-clothes-in-order-is/) [Ellen Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-baker/) > [Females always say, you can't turn a hoe into a house wife, but steady be trying to turn a dog into a faithful man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hussein-nishah/females-always-say-you-can-t-turn-a-hoe-into-a-house-wife-but-steady/) [Hussein Nishah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hussein-nishah/) > [He's a fool that marries; but he's a greater fool that does not marry a fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wycherley/he-s-a-fool-that-marries-but-he-s-a-greater-fool-that-does-not-marry/) [William Wycherley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wycherley/) > [Her dignity consists in being unknown to the world; her glory is in the esteem of her husband; her pleasures in the happiness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/her-dignity-consists-in-being-unknown-to-the-world-her-glory-is-in/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [But I think that of all the literature that I studied, the book that did more than any other to fire my enthusiasm was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/but-i-think-that-of-all-the-literature-that-i-studied-the-book-that/) [Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/) > [Most marriages don't add two people together. They subtract one from the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-fleming/most-marriages-don-t-add-two-people-together-they-subtract-one-from/) [Ian Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-fleming/) > [Alimony - the ransom that the happy pay to the devil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/alimony-the-ransom-that-the-happy-pay-to-the-devil/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [“His own parents, the estimable Gilchrists, a couple who had taken the 'till death' part of their own wedding vows so seriously he wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-blake/his-own-parents-the-estimable-gilchrists-a-couple-who-had-taken-the/) [Ally Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-blake/) [Browse all 31,920 Marriage quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I do not think that marriage is one of my talents. 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