--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is a mistake for women to think that…" description: "\"It is a mistake for women to think that life begins only with marriage. A woman can and must have an identity and feel useful, valued, and needed wheth..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/422/james-e-faust-1274_begins_it-is-a-mistake-for-women-to-think-that_2418598.jpg" --- # It is a mistake for women to think that life begins only… ![“It is a mistake for women to think that life begins only with marriage. A woman can and must have an identity and feel useful, valued, and needed whether she is single or married. She must feel that she can do something for someone else that no one else ever born can do.” quote by James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/422/james-e-faust-1274_begins_it-is-a-mistake-for-women-to-think-that_2418598.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/422/james-e-faust-1274_begins_it-is-a-mistake-for-women-to-think-that_2418598.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/422/james-e-faust-1274_begins_it-is-a-mistake-for-women-to-think-that_2418598.jpg) > “It is a mistake for women to think that life begins only with marriage. A woman can and must have an identity and feel useful, valued, and needed whether she is single or married. She must feel that she can do something for someone else that no one else ever born can do.” [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Women should define themselves beyond marriage, seeking purpose, value, and unique contributions regardless of marital status. **In simple terms:** Define identity beyond marriage. Key Takeaway Seek purpose and value independently. Themes identity purpose women's empowerment Mood inspired determined Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career - volunteering - education - community leadership Key Concepts self‑actualization social contribution gender equality Questions to Reflect On - How do you express purpose? - What roles fulfill you? A Different Perspective Societal expectations can hinder self‑definition. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Begins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/begins/) [Born](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/born/) [Else](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/else/) [Ever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ever/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Begins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-begins/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Marriage Woman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage-woman-509399/) [Married](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/married/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Must](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/must/) [Needed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needed/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [She](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/she/) [Single](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/single/) [Single Married](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/single-married-687599/) [Someone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/someone/) [Something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/something/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Useful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/useful/) [Valued](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/valued/) [Whether](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whether/) [Woman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/woman/) [Woman Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/woman-identity-534365/) [Women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women/) [Women Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women-think-304953/) ## Related quotes > [While the secular world pushes woman to find her identity in herself as a sex object, the popular teachings in the Church, equally mistaken,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leanne-payne/while-the-secular-world-pushes-woman-to-find-her-identity-in-herself/) [Leanne Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leanne-payne/) > [“My throat closes against the words I can't swallow, not one more time. Because it's not true, what they're telling me--what they've been telling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-hardy/my-throat-closes-against-the-words-i-can-t-swallow-not-one-more-time/) [Nicole Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-hardy/) > [I've spent my whole career trying to stay out of any box that anyone could put me in. 'I'm going to do a play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audra-mcdonald/i-ve-spent-my-whole-career-trying-to-stay-out-of-any-box-that-anyone/) [Audra McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audra-mcdonald/) > [I don't ask people if they are single or married then why do people have to ask me such things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sargun-mehta/i-don-t-ask-people-if-they-are-single-or-married-then-why-do-people/) [Sargun Mehta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sargun-mehta/) > [God’s plan for you, whether you’re married, single, or about to be married, unless He gives you the gift of singleness, is to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-ingram/god-s-plan-for-you-whether-you-re-married-single-or-about-to-be/) [Chip Ingram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-ingram/) > [“Private relationships, intimate and otherwise, might be structured in many different ways, and the simple dichotomy between “single” and “married” does not do justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-h-thaler/private-relationships-intimate-and-otherwise-might-be-structured-in-2/) [Richard H. Thaler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-h-thaler/) > [If you help yourself to the benefits of being married when you are single, you're likely to help yourself to the benefits of being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manis-friedman/if-you-help-yourself-to-the-benefits-of-being-married-when-you-are/) [Manis Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manis-friedman/) > [I am single until I get married](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katrina-kaif/i-am-single-until-i-get-married/) [Katrina Kaif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katrina-kaif/) > [“Private relationships, intimate and otherwise, might be structured in many different ways, and the simple dichotomy between “single” and “married” does not do justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/private-relationships-intimate-and-otherwise-might-be-structured-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Married friends divide the world between single and married. The singles table is always so motley, and you feel undignified.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cho/married-friends-divide-the-world-between-single-and-married-the/) [John Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cho/) > [There are a lot worse things in life than being single. One of which is being married to the wrong person. Don't rush things.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-are-a-lot-worse-things-in-life-than-being-single-one-of-which/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In marriage, a woman becomes the weaker sex, even if her husband doesn't want her to be. This happens because of the way society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kalki-koechlin/in-marriage-a-woman-becomes-the-weaker-sex-even-if-her-husband-doesn/) [Kalki Koechlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kalki-koechlin/) > [“I'll begin by asking you if you know how many people there are in a marriage, Two, a man and a woman, No, there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/i-ll-begin-by-asking-you-if-you-know-how-many-people-there-are-in-a/) [José Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [Marriage was all a woman's idea and for man's acceptance of the pretty yoke, it becomes us to be grateful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-mcginley/marriage-was-all-a-woman-s-idea-and-for-man-s-acceptance-of-the/) [Phyllis McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-mcginley/) > [A girl can't analyze marriage, and a woman dare not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-troubridge-una-vincenzo/a-girl-can-t-analyze-marriage-and-a-woman-dare-not/) [Lady Troubridge Una Vincenzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-troubridge-una-vincenzo/) ## More by James E. Faust > [Leadership is about three-fourths show-the-way and about one-fourth follow-up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/leadership-is-about-three-fourths-show-the-way-and-about-one-fourth/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [The Holy Ghost is the greatest guarantor of inward peace in our unstable world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/the-holy-ghost-is-the-greatest-guarantor-of-inward-peace-in-our/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [I personally claim no special insight into Satan's methods, but I have at times been able to identify his influence and his actions in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/i-personally-claim-no-special-insight-into-satan-s-methods-but-i-have/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [I hope that each of you girls will become an individual of significant worth and a person of virtue so that your contributions are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/i-hope-that-each-of-you-girls-will-become-an-individual-of/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [For women, the important ingredients for happiness are to forge an identity, serve the Lord, get an education, develop your talents, serve your family,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/for-women-the-important-ingredients-for-happiness-are-to-forge-an/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [You want to make your own decisions, but you ought to make those decisions with an eternal perspective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/you-want-to-make-your-own-decisions-but-you-ought-to-make-those/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [ Satan had two conditions \[to his plan\]: the first was the denial of agency, and the second, that he would have the honor. In… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/satan-had-two-conditions-to-his-plan-the-first-was-the-denial-of/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [Just as order gave life and beauty to the earth when it was dark and void, so it does to us. Obedience helps us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/just-as-order-gave-life-and-beauty-to-the-earth-when-it-was-dark-and/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [Integrity is the value we set on ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/integrity-is-the-value-we-set-on-ourselves/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [Your criticism may be worse than the conduct you are trying to correct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/your-criticism-may-be-worse-than-the-conduct-you-are-trying-to-correct/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [You cannot convert people beyond your own conversion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/you-cannot-convert-people-beyond-your-own-conversion/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [In order to do well, missionary work has to be totally positive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/in-order-to-do-well-missionary-work-has-to-be-totally-positive/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [We were called, male and female, to do great works with separate approaches and separate assignments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/we-were-called-male-and-female-to-do-great-works-with-separate/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [It is not good practice to become intrigued by Satan and his mysteries. No good can come from getting close to evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/it-is-not-good-practice-to-become-intrigued-by-satan-and-his/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [As children of the Lord we should strive every day to rise to a higher level of personal righteousness in all of our actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/as-children-of-the-lord-we-should-strive-every-day-to-rise-to-a/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) [Explore all 263 James E. Faust quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) ## More Begins quotes > [When I was 3, my parents strapped on a pair of Playskool plastic roller skates to my feet, and that's where the story begins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-celski/when-i-was-3-my-parents-strapped-on-a-pair-of-playskool-plastic/) [J. R. Celski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-celski/) > [Whether one is twenty, forty, or sixty; whether one has succeeded, failed or just muddled along; whether yesterday was full of sun or storm,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-mitchell-hodges/whether-one-is-twenty-forty-or-sixty-whether-one-has-succeeded-failed/) [Leigh Mitchell Hodges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-mitchell-hodges/) > [The end of the world begins the moment you die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/the-end-of-the-world-begins-the-moment-you-die/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [“healing begins the moment you want it to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nayyirah-waheed/healing-begins-the-moment-you-want-it-to/) [Nayyirah Waheed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nayyirah-waheed/) > [Life begins when a person first realizes how soon it will end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcelene-cox/life-begins-when-a-person-first-realizes-how-soon-it-will-end/) [Marcelene Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcelene-cox/) > [Russians not only vehemently despise blacks, they believe Africa begins at the Ukraine border.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/russians-not-only-vehemently-despise-blacks-they-believe-africa/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [The struggle ends when the gratitude begins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-struggle-ends-when-the-gratitude-begins/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The longest journey begins with a single step.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patanjali/the-longest-journey-begins-with-a-single-step/) [Patanjali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patanjali/) > [Libraries are where it all begins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-dove/libraries-are-where-it-all-begins/) [Rita Dove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-dove/) > [“Every accomplishment begins with the decision to try.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-thomas/every-accomplishment-begins-with-the-decision-to-try/) [Esther Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-thomas/) > [Prayer begins where our power ends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-joshua-heschel/prayer-begins-where-our-power-ends/) [Abraham Joshua Heschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-joshua-heschel/) > [Each piece of writing I undertake, whether a story, novel, play, or poem, begins with an image.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lock/each-piece-of-writing-i-undertake-whether-a-story-novel-play-or-poem/) [Norman Lock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lock/) > [“Civilization begins at 10 am.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-n-peacock/civilization-begins-at-10-am/) [B.N. Peacock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-n-peacock/) > [The end of the world begins in the sea we love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-winton/the-end-of-the-world-begins-in-the-sea-we-love/) [Tim Winton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-winton/) > [Remove the predators, and the whole ecosystem begins to crash like a house of cards. As the sharks disappear, the predator-prey balance dramatically shifts,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-skerry/remove-the-predators-and-the-whole-ecosystem-begins-to-crash-like-a/) [Brian Skerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-skerry/) [Browse all 499 Begins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/begins/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is a mistake for women to think that life begins only with marriage. A woman can and must have an identity and feel useful, valued, and needed whether she is single or married. She must feel that she can do something for someone else that no one else ever born can do.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James E. Faust" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/it-is-a-mistake-for-women-to-think-that-life-begins-only-with/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Begins" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/it-is-a-mistake-for-women-to-think-that-life-begins-only-with/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/422/james-e-faust-1274_begins_it-is-a-mistake-for-women-to-think-that_2418598.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/422/james-e-faust-1274_begins_it-is-a-mistake-for-women-to-think-that_2418598.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/422/james-e-faust-1274_begins_it-is-a-mistake-for-women-to-think-that_2418598.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is a mistake for women to think that life begins only with marriage. A woman can and must have an…” — James E. Faust", "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": "James E. Faust", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is a mistake for women...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/it-is-a-mistake-for-women-to-think-that-life-begins-only-with/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/it-is-a-mistake-for-women-to-think-that-life-begins-only-with/#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 } } ] } ```