--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Both polygamy and divorce, on the other…" description: "\"“Both polygamy and divorce, on the other hand, increased opportunities for reproduction—not for women, but for the men who wrote the laws and benefited..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03f/elaine-pagels-8423_polygamy_both-polygamy-and-divorce-on-the-other-h_2308572.jpg" --- # Both polygamy and divorce, on the other hand, increased… ![“Both polygamy and divorce, on the other hand, increased opportunities for reproduction—not for women, but for the men who wrote the laws and benefited from them.” quote by Elaine Pagels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03f/elaine-pagels-8423_polygamy_both-polygamy-and-divorce-on-the-other-h_2308572.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03f/elaine-pagels-8423_polygamy_both-polygamy-and-divorce-on-the-other-h_2308572.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03f/elaine-pagels-8423_polygamy_both-polygamy-and-divorce-on-the-other-h_2308572.jpg) > ““Both polygamy and divorce, on the other hand, increased opportunities for reproduction—not for women, but for the men who wrote the laws and benefited from them.”” [Elaine Pagels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-pagels/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Polygamy and divorce historically benefited men who crafted laws, not women, increasing male reproductive opportunities. **In simple terms:** Laws favored men’s reproduction over women’s. Key Takeaway Recognize gender bias in legal history. Themes gender law history power dynamics Mood critical analytical Type historical social When to use this quote - legal reform - gender equality education - policy analysis Key Concepts patriarchy reproductive rights Questions to Reflect On - What modern laws reflect similar biases? - How can we rectify past inequities? A Different Perspective Historical context varies across cultures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Increased Opportunities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/increased-opportunities-839104/) [Laws Benefited](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laws-benefited-5474586/) [Opportunities Reproduction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunities-reproduction-5474587/) [Polygamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/polygamy/) [Polygamy Divorce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/polygamy-divorce-5474585/) ## Related quotes > [Biblically defined marriage is a man and a woman for life, and so anything different than that is not God's ideal whether it be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/biblically-defined-marriage-is-a-man-and-a-woman-for-life-and-so/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [“With this increased diversity at the base of the food chain, there are increased opportunities for insects and fungi and bacteria that did not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-d-thomas/with-this-increased-diversity-at-the-base-of-the-food-chain-there-are/) [Chris D. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-d-thomas/) > [This increase in the life span and in the number of our senior citizens presents this Nation with increased opportunities: the opportunity to draw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/this-increase-in-the-life-span-and-in-the-number-of-our-senior/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Of course, with the increasing number of aeroplanes one gains increased opportunities for shooting down one's enemies, but at the same time, the possibility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manfred-von-richthofen/of-course-with-the-increasing-number-of-aeroplanes-one-gains/) [Manfred von Richthofen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manfred-von-richthofen/) > [“Estates are sometimes held by foolish forms, the breaking of a stick or the payment of a peppercorn. I was willing to hold the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/estates-are-sometimes-held-by-foolish-forms-the-breaking-of-a-stick/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [No Congress ever has seen fit to amend the Constitution to address any issue related to marriage. No Constitutional Amendment was needed to ban…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-biggert/no-congress-ever-has-seen-fit-to-amend-the-constitution-to-address/) [Judy Biggert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-biggert/) > [The Second Way in which a wife can be separated from her husband, while he continues to be faithful to his God and his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/the-second-way-in-which-a-wife-can-be-separated-from-her-husband/) [Brigham Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/) > [I feel like saying 'Damn the Law.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-q-cannon/i-feel-like-saying-damn-the-law/) [George Q. Cannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-q-cannon/) > [The Church ever operates in full light. There is no secrecy about its doctrine, aim, or work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-andreas-widtsoe/the-church-ever-operates-in-full-light-there-is-no-secrecy-about-its/) [John Andreas Widtsoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-andreas-widtsoe/) > [“Polygamy is about sex, whereas monogamy is about love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/polygamy-is-about-sex-whereas-monogamy-is-about-love/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [This was one of the greatest test of his faith he had ever experienced. The thought of deceiving the kind and faithful wife of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-f-whitney/this-was-one-of-the-greatest-test-of-his-faith-he-had-ever/) [Orson F. Whitney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-f-whitney/) > [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/) > [“A woman by nature is supposed to be picky, because a woman decides the quality of our next generation by virtue of whom she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-dixon/a-woman-by-nature-is-supposed-to-be-picky-because-a-woman-decides-the/) [Patricia Dixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-dixon/) > [Making love with a woman and sleeping with a woman are two separate passions, not merely different but opposite. Love does not make itself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/making-love-with-a-woman-and-sleeping-with-a-woman-are-two-separate/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [The only men who become Gods, even the Sons of God, are those who enter into polygamy. Others attain unto a glory and may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/the-only-men-who-become-gods-even-the-sons-of-god-are-those-who-enter/) [Brigham Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/) ## More by Elaine Pagels > [“Only the Jews, of all the nations under Roman rule, had won the right to separate their political obligations from religious ones, to obey…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-pagels/only-the-jews-of-all-the-nations-under-roman-rule-had-won-the-right/) [Elaine Pagels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-pagels/) > [ “Even Tacitus admitted that “whatever their origin, \[the Jews’\] observances are sanctioned by their antiquity,”64 and the Romans respected tradition. Christians, however, had no… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-pagels/even-tacitus-admitted-that-whatever-their-origin-the-jews-observances/) [Elaine Pagels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-pagels/) > [There's practically no religion that I know of that sees other people in a way that affirms the others' choices. But in our century…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-pagels/there-s-practically-no-religion-that-i-know-of-that-sees-other-people/) [Elaine Pagels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-pagels/) > [He's an intimate betrayer. That's what's so troubling. Judas turned in his own teacher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-pagels/he-s-an-intimate-betrayer-that-s-what-s-so-troubling-judas-turned-in/) [Elaine Pagels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-pagels/) > [The Antichrist is often identified with the second beast in the Book of Revelation that arises from the land, the beast that tries to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-pagels/the-antichrist-is-often-identified-with-the-second-beast-in-the-book/) [Elaine Pagels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-pagels/) > [“Jesus—for example, his categorical rejection of divorce, or his statement that “if anyone does not hate his own father and mother and wife and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-pagels/jesus-for-example-his-categorical-rejection-of-divorce-or-his/) [Elaine Pagels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-pagels/) > [The Gospel of Thomas claims to be the secret sayings of Jesus. There are 114 of them, so it says many things, but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-pagels/the-gospel-of-thomas-claims-to-be-the-secret-sayings-of-jesus-there/) [Elaine Pagels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-pagels/) > [I just have a sense that, you know, I'm curious about what is religion about, you know? Why do some of us still engage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-pagels/i-just-have-a-sense-that-you-know-i-m-curious-about-what-is-religion/) [Elaine Pagels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-pagels/) > [ “Augustine reflects that “what made me a slave to it was the habit \[consuetudo\] of satisfying an insatiable lust.”31” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-pagels/augustine-reflects-that-what-made-me-a-slave-to-it-was-the-habit/) [Elaine Pagels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-pagels/) > [Contemporary Christianity, diverse and complex as we find it, actually may show more unanimity than the Christian churches of the first and second centuries.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-pagels/contemporary-christianity-diverse-and-complex-as-we-find-it-actually/) [Elaine Pagels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-pagels/) > [“I beseech you, my lord, why have I been endowed with the power of understanding? For I did not want to ask about heavenly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-pagels/i-beseech-you-my-lord-why-have-i-been-endowed-with-the-power-of/) [Elaine Pagels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-pagels/) > [“thus the story of Eden was made to reinforce the patriarchal structure”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-pagels/thus-the-story-of-eden-was-made-to-reinforce-the-patriarchal-structure/) [Elaine Pagels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-pagels/) > [The author of the Gospel of Judas wasn't against martyrdom, and he didn't ever insult the martyrs. He said it's one thing to die…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-pagels/the-author-of-the-gospel-of-judas-wasn-t-against-martyrdom-and-he/) [Elaine Pagels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-pagels/) > [“gnostics celebrated as proof of spiritual maturity, the orthodox denounced as “deviation”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-pagels/gnostics-celebrated-as-proof-of-spiritual-maturity-the-orthodox/) [Elaine Pagels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-pagels/) > [Startling as the Gospel of Judas sounds, it amplifies hints we have long read in the Gospels of Mark and John that Jesus knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-pagels/startling-as-the-gospel-of-judas-sounds-it-amplifies-hints-we-have/) [Elaine Pagels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-pagels/) [Explore all 81 Elaine Pagels quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-pagels/) ## More Polygamy quotes > [The only men who become Gods, even the Sons of God, are those who enter into polygamy. Others attain unto a glory and may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/the-only-men-who-become-gods-even-the-sons-of-god-are-those-who-enter/) [Brigham Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/) > [Making love with a woman and sleeping with a woman are two separate passions, not merely different but opposite. Love does not make itself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/making-love-with-a-woman-and-sleeping-with-a-woman-are-two-separate/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [“A woman by nature is supposed to be picky, because a woman decides the quality of our next generation by virtue of whom she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-dixon/a-woman-by-nature-is-supposed-to-be-picky-because-a-woman-decides-the/) [Patricia Dixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-dixon/) > [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/) > [This was one of the greatest test of his faith he had ever experienced. The thought of deceiving the kind and faithful wife of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-f-whitney/this-was-one-of-the-greatest-test-of-his-faith-he-had-ever/) [Orson F. Whitney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-f-whitney/) > [“Polygamy is about sex, whereas monogamy is about love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/polygamy-is-about-sex-whereas-monogamy-is-about-love/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [The Church ever operates in full light. There is no secrecy about its doctrine, aim, or work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-andreas-widtsoe/the-church-ever-operates-in-full-light-there-is-no-secrecy-about-its/) [John Andreas Widtsoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-andreas-widtsoe/) > [I feel like saying 'Damn the Law.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-q-cannon/i-feel-like-saying-damn-the-law/) [George Q. Cannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-q-cannon/) > [The Second Way in which a wife can be separated from her husband, while he continues to be faithful to his God and his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/the-second-way-in-which-a-wife-can-be-separated-from-her-husband/) [Brigham Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/) > [No Congress ever has seen fit to amend the Constitution to address any issue related to marriage. No Constitutional Amendment was needed to ban…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-biggert/no-congress-ever-has-seen-fit-to-amend-the-constitution-to-address/) [Judy Biggert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-biggert/) > [“Estates are sometimes held by foolish forms, the breaking of a stick or the payment of a peppercorn. I was willing to hold the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/estates-are-sometimes-held-by-foolish-forms-the-breaking-of-a-stick/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [ “...Both Elizabeth \[Smart\] and Ruby \[Jessop\] were fourteen when they were kidnapped, raped and "kept captive by polygamous fanatics." The main difference in the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-krakauer/both-elizabeth-smart-and-ruby-jessop-were-fourteen-when-they-were/) [Jon Krakauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-krakauer/) > [“No secular country or state can impose laws on its citizens prohibiting polygamy or bigamy, unless one religion enjoys more privileges than others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mwanandeke-kindembo/no-secular-country-or-state-can-impose-laws-on-its-citizens/) [Mwanandeke Kindembo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mwanandeke-kindembo/) > [Polygamy causes a lot of strife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoshiko-sakurai/polygamy-causes-a-lot-of-strife/) [Yoshiko Sakurai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoshiko-sakurai/) > [The grand reason of the burst of public sentiment in anathemas upon Christ and his disciples, causing his crucifixion, was evidently based upon polygamy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jedediah-m-grant/the-grand-reason-of-the-burst-of-public-sentiment-in-anathemas-upon/) [Jedediah M. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jedediah-m-grant/) [Browse all 202 Polygamy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/polygamy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Both polygamy and divorce, on the other hand, increased opportunities for reproduction—not for women, but for the men who wrote the laws and benefited from them.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Elaine Pagels" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-pagels/both-polygamy-and-divorce-on-the-other-hand-increased-opportunities/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Polygamy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-pagels/both-polygamy-and-divorce-on-the-other-hand-increased-opportunities/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03f/elaine-pagels-8423_polygamy_both-polygamy-and-divorce-on-the-other-h_2308572.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03f/elaine-pagels-8423_polygamy_both-polygamy-and-divorce-on-the-other-h_2308572.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03f/elaine-pagels-8423_polygamy_both-polygamy-and-divorce-on-the-other-h_2308572.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Both polygamy and divorce, on the other hand, increased opportunities for reproduction—not for women, but…” — Elaine Pagels", "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": "Elaine Pagels", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-pagels/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Both polygamy and divorce, on the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-pagels/both-polygamy-and-divorce-on-the-other-hand-increased-opportunities/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-pagels/both-polygamy-and-divorce-on-the-other-hand-increased-opportunities/#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 } } ] } ```