--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think most of us who have been married…" description: "\"“I think most of us who have been married for any substantial length of time realize that the romantic roller coaster of courtship eventually evens out..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/598/gary-l-thomas-15836_marriage_i-think-most-of-us-who-have-been-married_1608709.png" --- # I think most of us who have been married for any… ![“I think most of us who have been married for any substantial length of time realize that the romantic roller coaster of courtship eventually evens out to the terrain of a Midwest interstate - long, flat stretches with an occasional overpass.” quote by Gary L. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/598/gary-l-thomas-15836_marriage_i-think-most-of-us-who-have-been-married_1608709.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/598/gary-l-thomas-15836_marriage_i-think-most-of-us-who-have-been-married_1608709.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/598/gary-l-thomas-15836_marriage_i-think-most-of-us-who-have-been-married_1608709.png) > ““I think most of us who have been married for any substantial length of time realize that the romantic roller coaster of courtship eventually evens out to the terrain of a Midwest interstate - long, flat stretches with an occasional overpass.”” [Gary L. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-thomas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Long-term marriage often settles into routine, losing the excitement of early romance. **In simple terms:** Marriage becomes routine over time. Key Takeaway Accept and nurture steady partnership. Themes marriage routine expectations Mood reflective content Type advice relationship When to use this quote - everyday life - long-term partnership - family planning Key Concepts relationship dynamics adaptation Questions to Reflect On - How can couples keep intimacy alive? - What routines strengthen partnership? A Different Perspective Romantic excitement may still be cultivated with effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Coaster Courtship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coaster-courtship-6131722/) [Courtship Eventually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courtship-eventually-6131721/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Married Substantial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/married-substantial-6131723/) [Realize Romantic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realize-romantic-6131724/) [Roller coaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roller-coaster/) [Romance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/romance/) [Think Married](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-married/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [“There should be friendship vows. Did you ever think that? When you get married, you promise all that stuff - in sickness and in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-noble/there-should-be-friendship-vows-did-you-ever-think-that-when-you-get/) [Elizabeth Noble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-noble/) > [“What are you doing here?”… Thought you might like a ride,” he answers, smiling that tempting smile at me. “This going to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caisey-quinn/what-are-you-doing-here-thought-you-might-like-a-ride-he-answers/) [Caisey Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caisey-quinn/) > [My favorite television show has changed throughout the years. I used to think 'Married... With Children' was really funny. But now that I've gotten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-shelton/my-favorite-television-show-has-changed-throughout-the-years-i-used/) [Blake Shelton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-shelton/) > [I just think you should get married if you want to have some kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corbett/i-just-think-you-should-get-married-if-you-want-to-have-some-kids/) [John Corbett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corbett/) > [I think when you get married, it should be forever. Even though I did get married once and it was annulled. I don't know.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-love/i-think-when-you-get-married-it-should-be-forever-even-though-i-did/) [Courtney Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-love/) > [There's still people who think me being married to a sista is an act. What, you think I'd make that up for a persona?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-owen/there-s-still-people-who-think-me-being-married-to-a-sista-is-an-act/) [Gary Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-owen/) > [And when I think about that, I think that if nothing but being married will help a man, he's durn nigh hopeless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/and-when-i-think-about-that-i-think-that-if-nothing-but-being-married/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [“Maybe I'm old-fashioned," she repeated, "in this one area. I don't think we should live together. I think we should get married." "That's just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/maybe-i-m-old-fashioned-she-repeated-in-this-one-area-i-don-t-think/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [We're so marriage-obsessed, we think that only married people are families.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanna-rosin/we-re-so-marriage-obsessed-we-think-that-only-married-people-are/) [Hanna Rosin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanna-rosin/) > [I always did think I would be married and settled down by now but maybe I ain't ready.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holland-taylor/i-always-did-think-i-would-be-married-and-settled-down-by-now-but/) [Holland Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holland-taylor/) > [I think I was married to my husband in mind before it happened officially. When you fall in love, you make a commitment to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-haydon/i-think-i-was-married-to-my-husband-in-mind-before-it-happened/) [Lisa Haydon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-haydon/) > [I didn't think I'd see myself get married.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-mena/i-didn-t-think-i-d-see-myself-get-married/) [Erica Mena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-mena/) > [I would rather not be engaged. When people are engaged, they begin to think of being married soon, and I should like everything to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/i-would-rather-not-be-engaged-when-people-are-engaged-they-begin-to/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [“I think we should get married here," I say. It's so obvious. Naomi sits down on the top stair, the edge of our corner,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-cohn-and-david-levithan/i-think-we-should-get-married-here-i-say-it-s-so-obvious-naomi-sits/) [Rachel Cohn and David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-cohn-and-david-levithan/) ## More by Gary L. Thomas > [“The mark of a spiritual man or woman is a listening heart, not a lecturing tongue.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-thomas/the-mark-of-a-spiritual-man-or-woman-is-a-listening-heart-not-a/) [Gary L. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-thomas/) > [“With Christ in us and the Holy Spirit transforming us, we really have no excuse for continuing immaturity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-thomas/with-christ-in-us-and-the-holy-spirit-transforming-us-we-really-have/) [Gary L. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-thomas/) > [The older I get the more I realize that a significant portion of a parent's happiness or sadness in middle-age will be directly impacted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-thomas/the-older-i-get-the-more-i-realize-that-a-significant-portion-of-a/) [Gary L. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-thomas/) > [Done well, marital sexuality can be a supremely healing experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-thomas/done-well-marital-sexuality-can-be-a-supremely-healing-experience/) [Gary L. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-thomas/) > [“Contempt is conceived with expectations. Respect is conceived with expressions of gratitude. We can choose which one we will obsess over-expectations, or thanksgivings. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-thomas/contempt-is-conceived-with-expectations-respect-is-conceived-with/) [Gary L. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-thomas/) > [A good marriage isn't something you find; it's something you make.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-thomas/a-good-marriage-isn-t-something-you-find-it-s-something-you-make/) [Gary L. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-thomas/) > [If you want to be free to serve Jesus, there’s no question—stay single. Marriage takes a lot of time. But if you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-thomas/if-you-want-to-be-free-to-serve-jesus-there-s-no-question-stay-single/) [Gary L. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-thomas/) > [“One of these early thinkers, Augustine (A.D. 354–430), suggested that there are three benefits of marriage: offspring, faith (fidelity), and sacrament. Of the three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-thomas/one-of-these-early-thinkers-augustine-a-d-354-430-suggested-that/) [Gary L. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-thomas/) > [“Righteousness—true holiness—is seen over time in our persistence. It is relatively easy to “flirt” with righteousness—being occasionally courteous to other drivers (if you happen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-thomas/righteousness-true-holiness-is-seen-over-time-in-our-persistence-it/) [Gary L. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-thomas/) > [“This is a book that looks at how we can use the challenges, joys, struggles, and celebrations of marriage to draw closer to God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-thomas/this-is-a-book-that-looks-at-how-we-can-use-the-challenges-joys/) [Gary L. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-thomas/) > [“He planted marriage among humans as yet another signpost pointing to his own eternal, spiritual existence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-thomas/he-planted-marriage-among-humans-as-yet-another-signpost-pointing-to/) [Gary L. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-thomas/) > [It's astonishing how quickly cultural references change. Each new generation of parents grows up with a new slate of cultural understanding, television shows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-thomas/it-s-astonishing-how-quickly-cultural-references-change-each-new/) [Gary L. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-thomas/) > [“In this chapter, we’re going to explore how these various analogies use the experience of marriage to teach us valuable truths about the nature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-thomas/in-this-chapter-we-re-going-to-explore-how-these-various-analogies/) [Gary L. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-thomas/) > [What if your husband’s faults are God’s tools to shape you? What if the very thing that most bugs you about your man constitutes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-thomas/what-if-your-husband-s-faults-are-god-s-tools-to-shape-you-what-if/) [Gary L. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-thomas/) > [Any mature, spiritually sensitive view of marriage must be built on the foundation of mature love rather than romanticism. But this immediately casts us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-thomas/any-mature-spiritually-sensitive-view-of-marriage-must-be-built-on/) [Gary L. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-thomas/) [Explore all 41 Gary L. Thomas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-thomas/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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 think most of us who have been married for any substantial length of time realize that the romantic roller coaster of courtship eventually evens out to the terrain of a Midwest interstate - long, flat stretches with an occasional overpass.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gary L. Thomas" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-thomas/i-think-most-of-us-who-have-been-married-for-any-substantial-length/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Marriage" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-thomas/i-think-most-of-us-who-have-been-married-for-any-substantial-length/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/598/gary-l-thomas-15836_marriage_i-think-most-of-us-who-have-been-married_1608709.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/598/gary-l-thomas-15836_marriage_i-think-most-of-us-who-have-been-married_1608709.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/598/gary-l-thomas-15836_marriage_i-think-most-of-us-who-have-been-married_1608709.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think most of us who have been married for any substantial length of time realize that the romantic roller…” — Gary L. Thomas", "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": "Gary L. Thomas", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-thomas/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I think most of us who...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-thomas/i-think-most-of-us-who-have-been-married-for-any-substantial-length/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-thomas/i-think-most-of-us-who-have-been-married-for-any-substantial-length/#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 } } ] } ```