--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Oh! 'tis a precious thing, when wives are…" description: "\"Oh! 'tis a precious thing, when wives are dead, To find such numbers who will serve instead: And in whatever state a man be thrown, 'Tis that precisely..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e5/george-crabbe-7525_men_oh-tis-a-precious-thing-when-wives-are-d_733215.png" --- # Oh! 'tis a precious thing, when wives are dead, To find… ![“Oh! 'tis a precious thing, when wives are dead, To find such numbers who will serve instead: And in whatever state a man be thrown, 'Tis that precisely they would wish their own.” quote by George Crabbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e5/george-crabbe-7525_men_oh-tis-a-precious-thing-when-wives-are-d_733215.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e5/george-crabbe-7525_men_oh-tis-a-precious-thing-when-wives-are-d_733215.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e5/george-crabbe-7525_men_oh-tis-a-precious-thing-when-wives-are-d_733215.png) > “Oh! 'tis a precious thing, when wives are dead, To find such numbers who will serve instead: And in whatever state a man be thrown, 'Tis that precisely they would wish their own.” [George Crabbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-crabbe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. It laments the loss of wives and the desire for men to find replacements, reflecting on the futility of such wishes. **In simple terms:** Men wish for replacements after loss. Key Takeaway Recognize the value of loved ones. Themes loss desire human nature Mood melancholic thoughtful Type literary reflective When to use this quote - grief counseling - relationship advice - historical analysis Key Concepts literature existentialism Questions to Reflect On - Why do we seek replacements? - What does this say about human desire? A Different Perspective It may romanticize suffering. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Precious things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/precious-things/) [Wife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wife/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) [Wives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wives/) ## Related quotes > [Numbers serve to discipline rhetoric. 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