--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A husband can commit no greater blunder…" description: "\"A husband can commit no greater blunder than to discuss his wife, if she is virtuous, with his mistress; unless it be to mention his mistress, if she i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71f/honor-de-balzac-197_beautiful_a-husband-can-commit-no-greater-blunder_1476699.png" --- # A husband can commit no greater blunder than to discuss… ![“A husband can commit no greater blunder than to discuss his wife, if she is virtuous, with his mistress; unless it be to mention his mistress, if she is beautiful, to his wife.” quote by Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71f/honor-de-balzac-197_beautiful_a-husband-can-commit-no-greater-blunder_1476699.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71f/honor-de-balzac-197_beautiful_a-husband-can-commit-no-greater-blunder_1476699.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71f/honor-de-balzac-197_beautiful_a-husband-can-commit-no-greater-blunder_1476699.png) > “A husband can commit no greater blunder than to discuss his wife, if she is virtuous, with his mistress; unless it be to mention his mistress, if she is beautiful, to his wife.” [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Discussing a virtuous wife with a mistress is a grave mistake; likewise, praising a beautiful mistress to the wife is equally unwise. **In simple terms:** Avoid comparing or boasting about partners to each other. Key Takeaway Respect privacy and loyalty in relationships. Themes marriage trust loyalty communication Mood cautious reflective Type advice ethical When to use this quote - family gatherings - marital counseling - social gatherings - workplace gossip Key Concepts ethics social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain respect for partners in social circles? - What boundaries protect relationships from gossip? A Different Perspective Such comparisons can damage trust and cause lasting resentment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beautiful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beautiful/) [Blunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blunders/) [Husband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/husband/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Mistress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistress/) [She is beautiful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/she-is-beautiful/) [Wife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wife/) ## Related quotes > [“And ’tis most evident and plain that simple Nature is the most harmless, inoffensive, and virtuous mistress. ’Tis she alone, if she were permitted,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aphra-behn/and-tis-most-evident-and-plain-that-simple-nature-is-the-most/) [Aphra Behn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aphra-behn/) > [Bronagh looks after the kids and without her the family would disintegrate... there are some things you can't discuss with anyone other than your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-key/bronagh-looks-after-the-kids-and-without-her-the-family-would/) [John Key](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-key/) > [“It's rude to discuss your wife with your girlfriend”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-carr/it-s-rude-to-discuss-your-wife-with-your-girlfriend/) [Robyn Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-carr/) > [“... he paraphrased his father's favourite saint, Augustine: Lord, make my wife virtuous, but not yet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zin-murphy/he-paraphrased-his-father-s-favourite-saint-augustine-lord-make-my/) Zin Murphy > [I would injure no man, and should provoke no resentment. 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She is beautiful but desexed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/nefertiti-is-like-athena-born-from-the-brow-of-zeus-a-head-heavy/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [True beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/true-beauty-in-a-woman-is-reflected-in-her-soul/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) ## More by Honore de Balzac > [“Oh, my friend, when you love, love a woman whom you are sure that you can love always. Never forsake a woman.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/oh-my-friend-when-you-love-love-a-woman-whom-you-are-sure-that-you/) [Honoré de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [“You have broken the ice, though you have not even scratched its glossy surface: you have placed your hand upon the croup of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/you-have-broken-the-ice-though-you-have-not-even-scratched-its-glossy/) [Honoré de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [In a world of hunchbacks, a fine figure becomes a monstrosity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/in-a-world-of-hunchbacks-a-fine-figure-becomes-a-monstrosity/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [It is quite right what they say: the three most beautiful sights in the world are a ship in full sail, a galloping horse,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/it-is-quite-right-what-they-say-the-three-most-beautiful-sights-in/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [My writing table has seen all my wretchedness, knows all my plans, has overheard all my thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/my-writing-table-has-seen-all-my-wretchedness-knows-all-my-plans-has/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [Foppery, being the chronic condition of women, is not so much noticed as it is when it breaks out on the person of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/foppery-being-the-chronic-condition-of-women-is-not-so-much-noticed/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [A married woman is a slave you must know how to seat upon a throne.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/a-married-woman-is-a-slave-you-must-know-how-to-seat-upon-a-throne/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [Rich men are resolved to be astonished at nothing. 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It needs gymnastics, just like the body does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/the-mind-too-has-its-regimen-it-needs-gymnastics-just-like-the-body/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [Hatred like love feeds on the merest trifles. Everything adds to it. Just as the being we love can do no wrong, so the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/hatred-like-love-feeds-on-the-merest-trifles-everything-adds-to-it/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [All human power is a compound of time and patience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/all-human-power-is-a-compound-of-time-and-patience/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) [Explore all 793 Honore de Balzac quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) ## More Beautiful quotes > [I received a beautiful welcome to the world of music. 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