--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Better marry a maiden, so you can teach…" description: "\"“Better marry a maiden, so you can teach her good manners, and in particular marry one who lives close by you. Look her well over first. Don't marry wh..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b5/hesiod-2889_good-man_better-marry-a-maiden-so-you-can-teach-h_2585420.jpg" --- # Better marry a maiden, so you can teach her good manners… ![“Better marry a maiden, so you can teach her good manners, and in particular marry one who lives close by you. Look her well over first. Don't marry what will make your neighbors laugh at you, for while there's nothing better a man can win him than a good wife, there's nothing more dismal than a…” quote by Hesiod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b5/hesiod-2889_good-man_better-marry-a-maiden-so-you-can-teach-h_2585420.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b5/hesiod-2889_good-man_better-marry-a-maiden-so-you-can-teach-h_2585420.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b5/hesiod-2889_good-man_better-marry-a-maiden-so-you-can-teach-h_2585420.jpg) > ““Better marry a maiden, so you can teach her good manners, and in particular marry one who lives close by you. Look her well over first. Don't marry what will make your neighbors laugh at you, for while there's nothing better a man can win him than a good wife, there's nothing more dismal than a bad one.”” [Hesiod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advises marrying a local, well‑mannered woman to avoid social ridicule and ensure a good partnership. **In simple terms:** Choose a good, nearby wife. Key Takeaway Seek compatible, respected partners. Themes marriage social standing compatibility Mood reflective practical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - courtship - family planning - social expectations Key Concepts family community reputation Questions to Reflect On - What qualities matter most in a partner? - How does community influence marriage choices? A Different Perspective Cultural norms may differ today. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Better Marry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-marry-328078/) [Good man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-man/) [Good wife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-wife/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Marry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marry/) [Marry Lives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marry-lives-1813460/) [Marry Maiden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marry-maiden-1813459/) ## Related quotes > [“it is far better to marry the right person at the wrong time than the wrong person at the right time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shmuley-boteach/it-is-far-better-to-marry-the-right-person-at-the-wrong-time-than-the/) [Shmuley Boteach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shmuley-boteach/) > [I'ts better to marry a true love than first love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lara-flores/i-ts-better-to-marry-a-true-love-than-first-love/) [Lara Flores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lara-flores/) > [By all means marry; if you get a good wife, you'll be happy. If you get a bad one, you'll become a philosopher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/by-all-means-marry-if-you-get-a-good-wife-you-ll-be-happy-if-you-get/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [By all means marry. If you get a good wife, you will be happy. If you get a bad one, youll become a philosopher¦and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/by-all-means-marry-if-you-get-a-good-wife-you-will-be-happy-if-you/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [For a man wins nothing better than a good wife, and then again nothing deadlier than a bad one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/for-a-man-wins-nothing-better-than-a-good-wife-and-then-again-nothing/) [Hesiod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/) > [“For a man can win nothing better than a good wife, and nothing more painful than a bad one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/for-a-man-can-win-nothing-better-than-a-good-wife-and-nothing-more/) [Hesiod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/) > [Don't be flirting with your gift, you better marry it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rapsody/don-t-be-flirting-with-your-gift-you-better-marry-it/) [Rapsody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rapsody/) > [“You were so talented,” her mother says, smiling. “It is such a pity you didn’t pursue that. Don’t marry someone because you think you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-green/you-were-so-talented-her-mother-says-smiling-it-is-such-a-pity-you/) [Jane Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-green/) > [Better to marry unhappily 100 times than to live happily forever in sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiny-tim/better-to-marry-unhappily-100-times-than-to-live-happily-forever-in/) [Tiny Tim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiny-tim/) > [“St. Paul said it is better to marry than to burn, but my mother taught me it is better to burn than to marry.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/st-paul-said-it-is-better-to-marry-than-to-burn-but-my-mother-taught/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [If you're looking for monogamy, you'd better marry a swan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/if-you-re-looking-for-monogamy-you-d-better-marry-a-swan/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [“Paul scooted forward a bit. "Well, it's no secret I'm in love with your daughter. I want to marry Vanni. Do I have your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-carr/paul-scooted-forward-a-bit-well-it-s-no-secret-i-m-in-love-with-your/) [Robyn Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-carr/) > [Being asked whether it's better to marry or not, he (Socrates) replied, Whichever you do you will repent it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes/being-asked-whether-it-s-better-to-marry-or-not-he-socrates-replied/) [Diogenes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes/) > [“And it seems to me that there is nothing more likely to cure a woman of lust than marriage. Now I understand what the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/and-it-seems-to-me-that-there-is-nothing-more-likely-to-cure-a-woman/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) > [PROSTITUTES ARE BETTER THAN THOSE WHO MARRY MEN FOR THE SAKE OF MATERIAL PROSPERITY AND COMFORT](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhaskar-mukharjee/prostitutes-are-better-than-those-who-marry-men-for-the-sake-of/) [Bhaskar Mukharjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhaskar-mukharjee/) ## More by Hesiod > [Gain not base gains; base gains are the same as losses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/gain-not-base-gains-base-gains-are-the-same-as-losses/) [Hesiod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/) > [Aegis-bearing Zeus has a design for each occasion, and mortals find this hard to comprehend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/aegis-bearing-zeus-has-a-design-for-each-occasion-and-mortals-find/) [Hesiod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/) > [The best is he who calls men to the best. And those who heed the call are also blessed. But worthless who call not,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/the-best-is-he-who-calls-men-to-the-best-and-those-who-heed-the-call/) [Hesiod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/) > [If you speak evil, you will soon be worse spoken of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/if-you-speak-evil-you-will-soon-be-worse-spoken-of/) [Hesiod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/) > [Inhibition is no good provider for a needy man, Inhibition, which does men great harm and great good. Inhibition attaches to poverty, boldness to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/inhibition-is-no-good-provider-for-a-needy-man-inhibition-which-does/) [Hesiod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/) > [Potter is jealous of potter, and craftsman of craftsman; and the poor have a grudge against the poor, and the poet against the poet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/potter-is-jealous-of-potter-and-craftsman-of-craftsman-and-the-poor/) [Hesiod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/) > [Preserve the mean; the opportune moment is best in all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/preserve-the-mean-the-opportune-moment-is-best-in-all-things/) [Hesiod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/) > [The potter is at enmity with the potter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/the-potter-is-at-enmity-with-the-potter/) [Hesiod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/) > [But he who neither thinks for himself nor learns from others, is a failure as a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/but-he-who-neither-thinks-for-himself-nor-learns-from-others-is-a/) [Hesiod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/) > [Justice prevails over transgression when she comes to the end of the race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/justice-prevails-over-transgression-when-she-comes-to-the-end-of-the/) [Hesiod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/) > [“It is best to work, at whatever you have a talent for doing, without turning your greedy thought toward what some other man possesses,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/it-is-best-to-work-at-whatever-you-have-a-talent-for-doing-without/) [Hesiod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/) > [I see no hope for the future of our people if they are dependent on the frivolous youth of today, for certainly all youth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/i-see-no-hope-for-the-future-of-our-people-if-they-are-dependent-on/) [Hesiod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/) > [Do not let a flattering woman coax and wheedle you and deceive you; she is after your barn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/do-not-let-a-flattering-woman-coax-and-wheedle-you-and-deceive-you/) [Hesiod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/) > [In the race for wealth, a neighbor tries to outdo his neighbor, but this strife is good for men. For the potter envies potter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/in-the-race-for-wealth-a-neighbor-tries-to-outdo-his-neighbor-but/) [Hesiod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/) > [The Gods rank work above virtues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/the-gods-rank-work-above-virtues/) [Hesiod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/) [Explore all 146 Hesiod quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/) ## More Good man quotes > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Good manners are not bred in moments, but in years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-mcnair-wright/good-manners-are-not-bred-in-moments-but-in-years/) [Julia McNair Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-mcnair-wright/) > [Troy was a sweet, good man. We just were never destined to be married. We just didn't have the same values. 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His rudeness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-fowler/it-is-said-that-the-hallmark-of-a-gentleman-is-that-he-is-only-ever/) [Christopher Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-fowler/) > [I'm a good man with a good heart had a tough time, got a rough start But I finally learned to let it go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mayer/i-m-a-good-man-with-a-good-heart-had-a-tough-time-got-a-rough-start/) [John Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mayer/) > [ I've often thought about that and the only suitable member to join me on that climb \[to Everest\] was George Lowe: he was strong,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-hillary/i-ve-often-thought-about-that-and-the-only-suitable-member-to-join-me/) [Edmund Hillary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-hillary/) > [Of course, when you play football yourself you can think you want to become a manager but it does not make you a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaap-stam/of-course-when-you-play-football-yourself-you-can-think-you-want-to/) [Jaap Stam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaap-stam/) > [“Falsehood of a good man is better than truth of a bad one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raheel-farooq/falsehood-of-a-good-man-is-better-than-truth-of-a-bad-one/) [Raheel Farooq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raheel-farooq/) > [“Atticus adjusted his glasses as he peered down at the blanket. “Hey, is that the book Nellie told us about?” Jake’s eyes flicked to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jude-watson/atticus-adjusted-his-glasses-as-he-peered-down-at-the-blanket-hey-is/) [Jude Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jude-watson/) > [A good man therefore is a standing lesson to us all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/a-good-man-therefore-is-a-standing-lesson-to-us-all/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [“Grits Glossary blues \\’blüz\\ n: nothing but a good man singing about hardship, sorrow, and the things he’s done wrong--but sake’s alive, they make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-ford/grits-glossary-blues-bl-z-n-nothing-but-a-good-man-singing-about/) [Deborah Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-ford/) [Browse all 2,081 Good man quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-man/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Better marry a maiden, so you can teach her good manners, and in particular marry one who lives close by you. 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