--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The man who has no wife is no cuckold." description: "\"“The man who has no wife is no cuckold.”\" — Geoffrey Chaucer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4a/geoffrey-chaucer-1677_cuckold_the-man-who-has-no-wife-is-no-cuckold-11_118929.jpg" --- # The man who has no wife is no cuckold. ![“The man who has no wife is no cuckold.” quote by Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4a/geoffrey-chaucer-1677_cuckold_the-man-who-has-no-wife-is-no-cuckold-11_118929.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4a/geoffrey-chaucer-1677_cuckold_the-man-who-has-no-wife-is-no-cuckold-11_118929.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4a/geoffrey-chaucer-1677_cuckold_the-man-who-has-no-wife-is-no-cuckold-11_118929.jpg) > ““The man who has no wife is no cuckold.”” [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A tongue‑in‑cheek observation that a man without a wife cannot be a cuckold, playing on the definition of the term. **In simple terms:** No wife, no cuckold. Key Takeaway Wordplay on marital status. Themes humor wordplay marriage Mood witty light Type joke aphorism When to use this quote - Comedy writing - Literary analysis classes Key Concepts semantic twist social satire Practical Applications - Use as a witty opening in a speech Questions to Reflect On - How does language reflect historical marital norms? A Different Perspective Relies on outdated gender assumptions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Wife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wife/) ## Related quotes > [“O, beware, my lord, of jealousy; It is the green-ey'd monster, which doth mock The meat it feeds on. 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The man is not "taking" and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/the-zipless-fuck-is-absolutely-pure-it-is-free-of-ulterior-motives/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [“She had signed her own death-warrant. He kept telling himself over and over that he was not to blame, she had brought it on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornell-woolrich/she-had-signed-her-own-death-warrant-he-kept-telling-himself-over-and/) [Cornell Woolrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornell-woolrich/) > [“I live by never saying what if?...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-forest/i-live-by-never-saying-what-if/) Lisa Forest > [A man's wife is his compromise with the illusion of his first sweetheart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-jean-nathan/a-man-s-wife-is-his-compromise-with-the-illusion-of-his-first/) [George Jean Nathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-jean-nathan/) > [“A man and wife should see the best in each other, should work together, should enjoy each other.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gena-showalter/a-man-and-wife-should-see-the-best-in-each-other-should-work-together/) [Gena Showalter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gena-showalter/) > [Man and wife, Coupled together for the sake of strife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-churchill/man-and-wife-coupled-together-for-the-sake-of-strife/) [Charles Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-churchill/) > [“play. "A wonderful picture of home life, only we don't have such homes," said a big, prosperous-looking man to his wife, with a touch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/play-a-wonderful-picture-of-home-life-only-we-don-t-have-such-homes/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [Love has united you as man and wife. May your love grow for each other every day! Many congratulations on your marriage!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-has-united-you-as-man-and-wife-may-your-love-grow-for-each-other/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [After marriage, the other man's wife looks more beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/navjot-singh-sidhu/after-marriage-the-other-man-s-wife-looks-more-beautiful/) [Navjot Singh Sidhu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/navjot-singh-sidhu/) > [the Law has made the man and wife one person, and that one person the husband!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretia-mott/the-law-has-made-the-man-and-wife-one-person-and-that-one-person-the/) [Lucretia Mott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretia-mott/) > [The correct attitude of the security analyst toward the stock market might well be that of a man toward his wife. He shouldn't pay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/the-correct-attitude-of-the-security-analyst-toward-the-stock-market/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [I use to be a one woman man but I can't see myself with a wife now. Fuck tryin to please a muthafuka who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/z-ro/i-use-to-be-a-one-woman-man-but-i-can-t-see-myself-with-a-wife-now/) Z-Ro ## More by Geoffrey Chaucer > [Drunkenness is the very sepulcher Of man's wit and his discretion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/drunkenness-is-the-very-sepulcher-of-man-s-wit-and-his-discretion/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > [Whoso will pray, he must fast and be clean, And fat his soul, and make his body lean.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/whoso-will-pray-he-must-fast-and-be-clean-and-fat-his-soul-and-make/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > [One eare it heard, at the other out it went.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/one-eare-it-heard-at-the-other-out-it-went/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > [The handsome gifts that fate and nature lend us Most often are the very ones that end us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/the-handsome-gifts-that-fate-and-nature-lend-us-most-often-are-the/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > [Patience is a conquering virtue. The learned say that, if it not desert you, It vanquishes what force can never reach; Why answer back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/patience-is-a-conquering-virtue-the-learned-say-that-if-it-not-desert/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > [“This Nicholas anon leet fle a fart As greet as it had been a thonder-dent, That with the strook he was almoost yblent; And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/this-nicholas-anon-leet-fle-a-fart-as-greet-as-it-had-been-a-thonder/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > [A whetstone is no carving instrument, And yet it maketh sharp the carving tool; And if you see my efforts wrongly spent, Eschew that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/a-whetstone-is-no-carving-instrument-and-yet-it-maketh-sharp-the/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > [“In general, my liege lady,’ he began, ‘Women desire to have dominion Over their husbands, and their lovers too; They want to have mastery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/in-general-my-liege-lady-he-began-women-desire-to-have-dominion-over/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > [“Till we be roten, kan we not be rypen?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/till-we-be-roten-kan-we-not-be-rypen/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > [Venus me yaf my lust, my like rousnesse, And Mars yaf me my sturdy hardinesse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/venus-me-yaf-my-lust-my-like-rousnesse-and-mars-yaf-me-my-sturdy/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > [“For sondry scoles maken sotile clerkis; Womman of manye scoles half a clerk is.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/for-sondry-scoles-maken-sotile-clerkis-womman-of-manye-scoles-half-a/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > [For God's love, take things patiently, have sense, Think! We are prisoners and shall always be. Fortune has given us this adversity, Some wicked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/for-god-s-love-take-things-patiently-have-sense-think-we-are/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > [Whan that Aprill with his shoures soote The droghte of March hath perced to the roote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/whan-that-aprill-with-his-shoures-soote-the-droghte-of-march-hath/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > [Forbid us something, and that thing we desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/forbid-us-something-and-that-thing-we-desire/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > [Lat take a cat, and fostre him wel with milk, And tendre flesh, and make his couche of silk, And let him seen a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/lat-take-a-cat-and-fostre-him-wel-with-milk-and-tendre-flesh-and-make/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) [Explore all 217 Geoffrey Chaucer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) ## More Cuckold quotes > [“I live by never saying what if?...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-forest/i-live-by-never-saying-what-if/) Lisa Forest > [“She had signed her own death-warrant. He kept telling himself over and over that he was not to blame, she had brought it on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornell-woolrich/she-had-signed-her-own-death-warrant-he-kept-telling-himself-over-and/) [Cornell Woolrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornell-woolrich/) > [“The zipless fuck is absolutely pure. It is free of ulterior motives. There is no power game . The man is not "taking" and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/the-zipless-fuck-is-absolutely-pure-it-is-free-of-ulterior-motives/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [“He should in humility have asked her why it was that he was naturally a cuckold, why two women of different temperaments and characters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-trevor/he-should-in-humility-have-asked-her-why-it-was-that-he-was-naturally/) [William Trevor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-trevor/) > [He's a fool that marries, but he's a greater that does not marry a fool; what is wit in a wife good for, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wycherley/he-s-a-fool-that-marries-but-he-s-a-greater-that-does-not-marry-a/) [William Wycherley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wycherley/) > [“O, beware, my lord, of jealousy; It is the green-ey'd monster, which doth mock The meat it feeds on. That cuckold lives in bliss,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/o-beware-my-lord-of-jealousy-it-is-the-green-ey-d-monster-which-doth-2/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) Browse all 7 Cuckold quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The man who has no wife is no cuckold.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Geoffrey Chaucer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/the-man-who-has-no-wife-is-no-cuckold/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cuckold" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/the-man-who-has-no-wife-is-no-cuckold/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4a/geoffrey-chaucer-1677_cuckold_the-man-who-has-no-wife-is-no-cuckold-11_118929.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4a/geoffrey-chaucer-1677_cuckold_the-man-who-has-no-wife-is-no-cuckold-11_118929.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4a/geoffrey-chaucer-1677_cuckold_the-man-who-has-no-wife-is-no-cuckold-11_118929.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The man who has no wife is no cuckold.” — Geoffrey Chaucer", "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": "Geoffrey Chaucer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The man who has no wife...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/the-man-who-has-no-wife-is-no-cuckold/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/the-man-who-has-no-wife-is-no-cuckold/#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 } } ] } ```