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Accounts Quote by Gordon B. Hinckley

“Why all of these broken homes? What happens to marriages that begin with sincere love and a desire to be loyal and faithful and true one to another? There is no simple answer. I acknowledge that. But it appears to me that there are some obvious reasons that account for a very high percentage of…” quote by Gordon B. Hinckley
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“Why all of these broken homes? What happens to marriages that begin with sincere love and a desire to be loyal and faithful and true one to another? There is no simple answer. I acknowledge that. But it appears to me that there are some obvious reasons that account for a very high percentage of these problems. I say this out of experience in dealing with such tragedies. I find selfishness to be the root cause of most of it.”

Gordon B. Hinckley

About This Quote

Source Speech: General Conference, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑day Saints, 2005

Many marriages fail despite sincere love because selfishness erodes loyalty and faithfulness, leading to high divorce rates.

In simple terms: Selfishness often undermines marriage, causing breakdowns despite good intentions.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate selflessness in partnership.

Themes

marriage selfishness loyalty faithfulness

Mood

concerned thoughtful

Type

relationship advisory

When to use this quote

  • marriage counseling
  • family therapy
  • personal accountability

Key Concepts

relationship dynamics ethical behavior

Questions to Reflect On

  • What can partners do to reduce selfish tendencies?
  • How can community support strengthen marriages?
A Different Perspective

Selfishness isn’t the only factor; external pressures also matter.

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