Emotion Quote by Jane Smiley
“Love is a general emotion. Marriage is exactingly specific.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: "The Last Summer of the World", 1999
Love is a broad feeling, while marriage is a precise, legally defined partnership.
In simple terms: Love is broad; marriage is specific.
Key Takeaway
Distinguish feeling from commitment.
Themes
love
marriage
commitment
society
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
philosophical
relationship
When to use this quote
- relationship counseling
- wedding planning
- family law
Key Concepts
social contract
emotional vs legal
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you think marriage enhances or restricts love?
- Can love exist fully without marriage?
A Different Perspective
Marriage may limit the fluidity of love.
![“Music [is] the third rail of life. You grabbed it to shock yourself out of the dull drag of hours. To feel something. To burn with all the emotions you didn't get to experience in the ordinary run of school, TV, and loading the dishwasher after dinner.” quote by Joe Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/44b/joe-hill-1162_dinner_music-is-the-third-rail-of-life-you-grab_5424.jpg)