---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You know, sometimes marriage is iron…"
description: "\"“You know, sometimes marriage is iron. Sometimes it’s tissue paper. And I think the times it’s tissue paper are when you need to keep things to yoursel..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ef/elizabeth-berg-853_making-a-mistake_you-know-sometimes-marriage-is-iron-some_15487.jpg"
---

#  You know, sometimes marriage is iron. Sometimes it’s…

![“You know, sometimes marriage is iron. Sometimes it’s tissue paper. And I think the times it’s tissue paper are when you need to keep things to yourself. Or you can end up making a mistake that you’ll regret forever.” quote by Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ef/elizabeth-berg-853_making-a-mistake_you-know-sometimes-marriage-is-iron-some_15487.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ef/elizabeth-berg-853_making-a-mistake_you-know-sometimes-marriage-is-iron-some_15487.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ef/elizabeth-berg-853_making-a-mistake_you-know-sometimes-marriage-is-iron-some_15487.jpg)

> ““You know, sometimes marriage is iron. Sometimes it’s tissue paper. And I think the times it’s tissue paper are when you need to keep things to yourself. Or you can end up making a mistake that you’ll regret forever.””

[Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Marriage can be fragile or strong; when it feels fragile, secrecy may protect it, but hidden truths can lead to lasting regret.

**In simple terms:** Fragility vs. strength in marriage

Key Takeaway

Secrecy can preserve or damage relationships

Themes

relationships trust communication vulnerability consequences

Mood

reflective cautious thoughtful

Type

advice observation reflection

When to use this quote

- confiding a partner
- hiding a mistake
- maintaining privacy

Key Concepts

marriage secrecy regret

Practical Applications

- counseling guidance
- relationship advice

Questions to Reflect On

- When does secrecy protect a marriage?
- What risks arise from hidden truths?

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Iron Tissue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iron-tissue-380613/) [Know Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-marriage-380612/) [Making a mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-a-mistake/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Marriage Iron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage-iron-380611/) [Regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regret/) [Tissue paper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tissue-paper/)

## Related quotes

> [You know it's never fifty-fifty in a marriage. It's always seventy-thirty, or sixty-forty. Someone falls in love first. Someone puts someone else up on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/you-know-it-s-never-fifty-fifty-in-a-marriage-it-s-always-seventy/)

[Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/)

> [“Do you know how marriage was defined in ancient Greece? Noel said in a calmer tone. Its really simple. A virgin goes to mans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/do-you-know-how-marriage-was-defined-in-ancient-greece-noel-said-in-a/)

[Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/)

> [“You know you are alone in marriage when your spouse is ignorant of your daily needs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gift-gugu-mona/you-know-you-are-alone-in-marriage-when-your-spouse-is-ignorant-of/)

[Gift Gugu Mona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gift-gugu-mona/)

> [You know what,marriage should be like a drivers license,, renewable every three years... so,if you think your already fed up,.. you can just quit..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie/you-know-what-marriage-should-be-like-a-drivers-license-renewable/)

[Debbie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie/)

> [You can't know about marriage until you try it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-evigan/you-can-t-know-about-marriage-until-you-try-it/)

[Greg Evigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-evigan/)

> [You're never healing the level you're on. You're always healing the level you came from. For example, you know things today that you didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/you-re-never-healing-the-level-you-re-on-you-re-always-healing-the/)

[Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/)

> [Dear Future Husband; know we won't be rushing into anything, perfection takes time, I want you to know every side of me before marriage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dear-future-husband-know-we-won-t-be-rushing-into-anything-perfection/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“You know, marriage is marriage, a partnership. You aren’t the only one who needs to step up and keep one of us safe. It’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/you-know-marriage-is-marriage-a-partnership-you-aren-t-the-only-one/)

[Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/)

> [I don't know about marriage as much as I do know that I'd be a great father.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-perry/i-don-t-know-about-marriage-as-much-as-i-do-know-that-i-d-be-a-great/)

[Tyler Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-perry/)

> [I don't know why someone else's marriage has anything to do with me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-edwards/i-don-t-know-why-someone-else-s-marriage-has-anything-to-do-with-me/)

[Elizabeth Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-edwards/)

> [People need to know their marriage is worth fighting for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-chapman/people-need-to-know-their-marriage-is-worth-fighting-for/)

[Gary Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-chapman/)

> [I believe in the institution of marriage. Of course being a Mormon, we believe in eternity rather than just till death do us part.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donny-osmond/i-believe-in-the-institution-of-marriage-of-course-being-a-mormon-we/)

[Donny Osmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donny-osmond/)

> [Wherever I go, I'm asked about my marriage. I believe this phase, where people constantly want to know about my marriage, it won't last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naga-chaitanya/wherever-i-go-i-m-asked-about-my-marriage-i-believe-this-phase-where/)

[Naga Chaitanya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naga-chaitanya/)

> [You know for many elected officials they all started in the same place. You know marriage is between a man and a woman, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcgreevey/you-know-for-many-elected-officials-they-all-started-in-the-same/)

[James McGreevey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcgreevey/)

> [I don't profess to know anything about marriage that anybody else doesn't know, or how to make it right. I don't want to read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-johansson/i-don-t-profess-to-know-anything-about-marriage-that-anybody-else/)

[Scarlett Johansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-johansson/)

## More by Elizabeth Berg

> [Never be afraid of doing the thing you know in your heart is right, even if others don't agree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/never-be-afraid-of-doing-the-thing-you-know-in-your-heart-is-right/)

[Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/)

> [“I think the reason we're cruel sometimes is that we're afraid we're going to like something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/i-think-the-reason-we-re-cruel-sometimes-is-that-we-re-afraid-we-re/)

[Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/)

> [If there were a category in the Olympics for laundry, my mother would have been a gold-medal winner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/if-there-were-a-category-in-the-olympics-for-laundry-my-mother-would/)

[Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/)

> [“If you say something over and over again, it begins to lose it's meaning... Say anything enough times and it becomes gibberish.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/if-you-say-something-over-and-over-again-it-begins-to-lose-it-s/)

[Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/)

> [“It's not that he doesn't smile; it's that if his smile were something you drew, you'd erase it, thinking, Wrong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/it-s-not-that-he-doesn-t-smile-it-s-that-if-his-smile-were-something/)

[Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/)

> [People say you should give until it hurts. I say you should give until it stops hurting. Know what I mean?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/people-say-you-should-give-until-it-hurts-i-say-you-should-give-until/)

[Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/)

> [“I should have said “powder room.” That would evoke the image of me sitting before a beautiful gold mirror, a vase of fresh flowers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/i-should-have-said-powder-room-that-would-evoke-the-image-of-me/)

[Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/)

> [Sometimes the best reading comes just by accident. Someone talks about a book, or you're just wandering the stacks in the library, and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/sometimes-the-best-reading-comes-just-by-accident-someone-talks-about/)

[Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/)

> [“I don’t think Martha’s so bad. I think I want her for a friend instead of you. When I look at her magazine, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/i-don-t-think-martha-s-so-bad-i-think-i-want-her-for-a-friend-instead/)

[Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/)

> [\*We give so little when it's in us always to give so much more. It's bothering to listen with an open heart to someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/we-give-so-little-when-it-s-in-us-always-to-give-so-much-more-it-s/)

[Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/)

> [We're not just writers; we're readers probably more than anything else. That's how you learn how to write and how you learn to appreciate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/we-re-not-just-writers-we-re-readers-probably-more-than-anything-else/)

[Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/)

> [I thought of the priest who'd told me that many religions hold that it is easier to be closely connected to people we love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/i-thought-of-the-priest-who-d-told-me-that-many-religions-hold-that/)

[Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/)

> [“How is it that we dare to honk at others in traffic, when we know nothing about where they have just come from or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/how-is-it-that-we-dare-to-honk-at-others-in-traffic-when-we-know/)

[Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/)

> [The truth is, we usually only show our unhappiness to another woman. I suppose this is one of our problems. And yet it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/the-truth-is-we-usually-only-show-our-unhappiness-to-another-woman-i/)

[Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/)

> [As for my 'real life,' yes, I do have friends who are different from me, and I find it refreshing being around them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/as-for-my-real-life-yes-i-do-have-friends-who-are-different-from-me/)

[Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/)

[Explore all 350 Elizabeth Berg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/)

## More Making a mistake quotes

> [Learning to play the guitar is a combination of mental and motor skill acquisition. And to develop motor skill, repetition is essential... Whenever musicians…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-roberts/learning-to-play-the-guitar-is-a-combination-of-mental-and-motor/)

[Howard Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-roberts/)

> [Making a mistake is also an achievement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-dewar-1st-baron-dewar/making-a-mistake-is-also-an-achievement/)

[Thomas Dewar, 1st Baron Dewar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-dewar-1st-baron-dewar/)

> [“I think you’re making a mistake,” she whispered. “You don’t need to go that party to meet a guy, you’ve got one that’s crazy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/i-think-you-re-making-a-mistake-she-whispered-you-don-t-need-to-go/)

[Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/)

> [Anything from making a mistake on an experiment that would ruin some scientist on earth's experiment - career, potentially - to doing something wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-ride/anything-from-making-a-mistake-on-an-experiment-that-would-ruin-some/)

[Sally Ride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-ride/)

> [“No, of course not," Belle said, playfully swatting him on the shoulder. "I never, never even once thought I was making a mistake. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/no-of-course-not-belle-said-playfully-swatting-him-on-the-shoulder-i/)

[Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/)

> [ “To the Jacobins of this epoch \[the French Revolution\], as well as to those of our times, this popular entity constitutes a superior personality… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-le-bon/to-the-jacobins-of-this-epoch-the-french-revolution-as-well-as-to/)

[Gustave Le Bon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-le-bon/)

> [Demand perfection of yourself and you'll seldom attain it. Fear of making a mistake is the biggest single cause of making one. Relax -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-winter/demand-perfection-of-yourself-and-you-ll-seldom-attain-it-fear-of/)

[Lloyd Winter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-winter/)

> [No one is perfect, everyone is capable of making a mistake, so drop the attitude, and give people a second chance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/no-one-is-perfect-everyone-is-capable-of-making-a-mistake-so-drop-the/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Nothing will stop you being creative more effectively as the fear of making a mistake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/nothing-will-stop-you-being-creative-more-effectively-as-the-fear-of/)

[John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/)

> [My rooting interest these days is first and foremost competitive hockey, and secondly in officials not making a mistake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-bettman/my-rooting-interest-these-days-is-first-and-foremost-competitive/)

[Gary Bettman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-bettman/)

> [“Am I making a mistake? Maybe. But it's mine to make.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-yoon/am-i-making-a-mistake-maybe-but-it-s-mine-to-make/)

[Nicola Yoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-yoon/)

> [I love everything about that because when he goes out there Javy Baez is not afraid of making a mistake, and that's big thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-maddon/i-love-everything-about-that-because-when-he-goes-out-there-javy-baez/)

[Joe Maddon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-maddon/)

> [If you're trading individual securities, you're almost certainly making a mistake. Because most professional managers can't outperform their benchmarks, and there's little reason to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-thaler/if-you-re-trading-individual-securities-you-re-almost-certainly/)

[Richard Thaler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-thaler/)

> [Maybe I am making a mistake but at least let me live and learn from it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/maybe-i-am-making-a-mistake-but-at-least-let-me-live-and-learn-from-it/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“It is better for a leader to make mistake in forgiving (a guilty person) than making a mistake in punishing (an innocent).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-better-for-a-leader-to-make-mistake-in-forgiving-a-guilty/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

[Browse all 169 Making a mistake quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-a-mistake/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“You know, sometimes marriage is iron. Sometimes it’s tissue paper. And I think the times it’s tissue paper are when you need to keep things to yourself. Or you can end up making a mistake that you’ll regret forever.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Elizabeth Berg"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/you-know-sometimes-marriage-is-iron-sometimes-it-s-tissue-paper-and-i/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Making a mistake"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/you-know-sometimes-marriage-is-iron-sometimes-it-s-tissue-paper-and-i/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ef/elizabeth-berg-853_making-a-mistake_you-know-sometimes-marriage-is-iron-some_15487.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ef/elizabeth-berg-853_making-a-mistake_you-know-sometimes-marriage-is-iron-some_15487.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ef/elizabeth-berg-853_making-a-mistake_you-know-sometimes-marriage-is-iron-some_15487.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“You know, sometimes marriage is iron. Sometimes it’s tissue paper. And I think the times it’s tissue paper…” — Elizabeth Berg",
                "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": "Elizabeth Berg",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“You know, sometimes marriage is iron....",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/you-know-sometimes-marriage-is-iron-sometimes-it-s-tissue-paper-and-i/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/you-know-sometimes-marriage-is-iron-sometimes-it-s-tissue-paper-and-i/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
