--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sometimes the greatest deterrent to a…" description: "\"Sometimes the greatest deterrent to a great marriage is believing you have a perfect marriage.\" — Francis Schaeffer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73f/francis-schaeffer-2607_believe_sometimes-the-greatest-deterrent-to-a-gr_275078.jpg" --- # Sometimes the greatest deterrent to a great marriage is… ![“Sometimes the greatest deterrent to a great marriage is believing you have a perfect marriage.” quote by Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73f/francis-schaeffer-2607_believe_sometimes-the-greatest-deterrent-to-a-gr_275078.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73f/francis-schaeffer-2607_believe_sometimes-the-greatest-deterrent-to-a-gr_275078.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73f/francis-schaeffer-2607_believe_sometimes-the-greatest-deterrent-to-a-gr_275078.jpg) > “Sometimes the greatest deterrent to a great marriage is believing you have a perfect marriage.” [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Assuming a marriage is flawless can prevent addressing underlying issues, ultimately weakening the relationship. **In simple terms:** Believing a marriage is perfect hinders growth. Key Takeaway Recognize and work on imperfections together. Themes marriage self‑deception growth Mood reflective cautious Type relationship advisory When to use this quote - marital counseling - open communication - conflict resolution Key Concepts relationship dynamics cognitive bias Questions to Reflect On - What signs indicate your marriage needs attention? - How can you foster realistic expectations with your partner? A Different Perspective Perfectionism can cause complacency and neglect. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Great marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-marriage/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Perfect marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect-marriage/) ## Related quotes > [The greatest deterrent to giving is the illusion that this earth is our home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-alcorn/the-greatest-deterrent-to-giving-is-the-illusion-that-this-earth-is/) [Randy Alcorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-alcorn/) > [We must modernize our greatest deterrent and keep peace among our adversaries with our nuclear arsenal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-tuberville/we-must-modernize-our-greatest-deterrent-and-keep-peace-among-our/) [Tommy Tuberville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-tuberville/) > [A perfect marriage is one in which "I'm sorry" is said just often enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/a-perfect-marriage-is-one-in-which-i-m-sorry-is-said-just-often-enough/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [“You have people out here trying to tell you to accept imperfections and that nobody is perfect (except for a dead/make-believe entity?) but if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-suggs/you-have-people-out-here-trying-to-tell-you-to-accept-imperfections/) [Lionel Suggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-suggs/) > [“...loving music didn't have to mean wanting the same song all the time, or believing it perfect, and that what you loved didn't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lavinia-greenlaw/loving-music-didn-t-have-to-mean-wanting-the-same-song-all-the-time/) [Lavinia Greenlaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lavinia-greenlaw/) > [A perfect marriage is just two imperfect people who refuse to give up on each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-willis/a-perfect-marriage-is-just-two-imperfect-people-who-refuse-to-give-up/) [Dave Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-willis/) > [Good bread and good butter go together. They are one of the perfect marriages in gastronomy, and they never fail to cheer me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-beard/good-bread-and-good-butter-go-together-they-are-one-of-the-perfect/) [James Beard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-beard/) > [It's all kind of a big illusion: the white picket fence and the perfect marriage and the kids. Check that box off, check that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-mclachlan/it-s-all-kind-of-a-big-illusion-the-white-picket-fence-and-the/) [Sarah McLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mclachlan/) > [My parents did not have a perfect marriage. It was pretty good, but it was not perfect. My marriage is not perfect. My wife…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stockwell-day/my-parents-did-not-have-a-perfect-marriage-it-was-pretty-good-but-it/) [Stockwell Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stockwell-day/) > [The 'perfect marriage' of food and wine should allow for infidelity".](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-andries-de-groot/the-perfect-marriage-of-food-and-wine-should-allow-for-infidelity/) Roy Andries De Groot > [“In this regard, Daisy reflected, her marriage to Matthew would not be unlike Lillian's with Westcliff. As two strong-willed people with very different sensibilities,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/in-this-regard-daisy-reflected-her-marriage-to-matthew-would-not-be/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [The great folk hymns are a perfect marriage of text and tune. There are those that have nice messages and some with good music,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mack-wilberg/the-great-folk-hymns-are-a-perfect-marriage-of-text-and-tune-there/) [Mack Wilberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mack-wilberg/) > [“Most of us begin, aided by almost every aspect of our culture, hoping for a perfect marriage. What this means is that we accept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-g-heilbrun/most-of-us-begin-aided-by-almost-every-aspect-of-our-culture-hoping/) Carolyn G. Heilbrun > [Ruth and I don't have a perfect marriage, but we have a great one. How can I say two things that seem so contradictory?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/ruth-and-i-don-t-have-a-perfect-marriage-but-we-have-a-great-one-how/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [“Satan wants you to believe that you don't have a choice in the matter. You can't be happy until things go the way that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-rietzsch/satan-wants-you-to-believe-that-you-don-t-have-a-choice-in-the-matter/) Lindsey Rietzsch ## More by Francis Schaeffer > [Jesus taught that the mark of the Christian is the observable love shown among all true believers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/jesus-taught-that-the-mark-of-the-christian-is-the-observable-love/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [As evangelical Christians we have tended to relegate art to the very fringe of life. The rest of human life we feel is more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/as-evangelical-christians-we-have-tended-to-relegate-art-to-the-very/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [Belief does not change what is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/belief-does-not-change-what-is/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [The overall way of thinking in the United States has shifted away from basic Biblical values, and the media share in the responsibility for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/the-overall-way-of-thinking-in-the-united-states-has-shifted-away/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [In God's world the individual counts. Therefore, Christian art should deal with the individual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/in-god-s-world-the-individual-counts-therefore-christian-art-should/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [As evangelical Christians, we have tended to relegate art to the very fringe of life. The rest of human life we feel is more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/as-evangelical-christians-we-have-tended-to-relegate-art-to-the-very-2/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [In the 20th century, evangelical Christians in America have naively accepted the role assigned to us by an anti-religious, anti-Christian consensus in our society.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/in-the-20th-century-evangelical-christians-in-america-have-naively/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [Humanism is not wrong in its cry for sociological healing, but humanism is not producing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/humanism-is-not-wrong-in-its-cry-for-sociological-healing-but/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [To die is to be with the Lord. It is not just an idea, it is a reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/to-die-is-to-be-with-the-lord-it-is-not-just-an-idea-it-is-a-reality/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [The purpose of apologetics is not just to win an argument or a discussion, but that people with whom we are in contact may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/the-purpose-of-apologetics-is-not-just-to-win-an-argument-or-a/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [If the church is what it should be, young people will be there. But they will not just 'be there' - they will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/if-the-church-is-what-it-should-be-young-people-will-be-there-but/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [With the Fall all became abnormal. It is not just that the individual is separated from God by his true moral guilt, but each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/with-the-fall-all-became-abnormal-it-is-not-just-that-the-individual/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [There is nothing more ugly than an orthodoxy without understanding or compassion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/there-is-nothing-more-ugly-than-an-orthodoxy-without-understanding-or/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [This is not an age in which to be a soft Christian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/this-is-not-an-age-in-which-to-be-a-soft-christian/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [The great distinction of a true Christian is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. How careful should he be, lest anything in his thoughts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/the-great-distinction-of-a-true-christian-is-the-indwelling-of-the/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) [Explore all 158 Francis Schaeffer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Sometimes the greatest deterrent to a great marriage is believing you have a perfect marriage.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Francis Schaeffer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/sometimes-the-greatest-deterrent-to-a-great-marriage-is-believing-you/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Believe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/sometimes-the-greatest-deterrent-to-a-great-marriage-is-believing-you/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73f/francis-schaeffer-2607_believe_sometimes-the-greatest-deterrent-to-a-gr_275078.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73f/francis-schaeffer-2607_believe_sometimes-the-greatest-deterrent-to-a-gr_275078.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73f/francis-schaeffer-2607_believe_sometimes-the-greatest-deterrent-to-a-gr_275078.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Sometimes the greatest deterrent to a great marriage is believing you have a perfect marriage.” — Francis Schaeffer", "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": "Francis Schaeffer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Sometimes the greatest deterrent to a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/sometimes-the-greatest-deterrent-to-a-great-marriage-is-believing-you/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/sometimes-the-greatest-deterrent-to-a-great-marriage-is-believing-you/#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 } } ] } ```