--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Monogamy is like a 40-watt bulb. It…" description: "\"Monogamy is like a 40-watt bulb. It works, but it's not enough.\" — John Patrick Shanley" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3d/john-patrick-shanley-13888_bulb_monogamy-is-like-a-40-watt-bulb-it-works_1219769.jpg" --- # Monogamy is like a 40-watt bulb. It works, but it's not… ![“Monogamy is like a 40-watt bulb. It works, but it's not enough.” quote by John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3d/john-patrick-shanley-13888_bulb_monogamy-is-like-a-40-watt-bulb-it-works_1219769.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3d/john-patrick-shanley-13888_bulb_monogamy-is-like-a-40-watt-bulb-it-works_1219769.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3d/john-patrick-shanley-13888_bulb_monogamy-is-like-a-40-watt-bulb-it-works_1219769.jpg) > “Monogamy is like a 40-watt bulb. It works, but it's not enough.” [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Monogamy provides stability but may lack excitement. **In simple terms:** A 40‑watt bulb is steady but dim. Key Takeaway Seek balance between commitment and passion. Themes relationships commitment desire Mood thoughtful nuanced Type relationship philosophical When to use this quote - Long‑term partnership - marriage counseling - personal growth Key Concepts Intimacy loneliness sexuality Questions to Reflect On - Is stability worth limited excitement? - How to nurture spark in long relationships? A Different Perspective Some view monogamy as restrictive. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Monogamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monogamy/) [Watt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/watt/) ## Related quotes > [Monogamy is like a 40-watt bulb. It works, but its not enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/monogamy-is-like-a-40-watt-bulb-it-works-but-its-not-enough/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) > [You dont have to be the brightest bulb in the house; when the darkness comes, you will be 100 watt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/you-dont-have-to-be-the-brightest-bulb-in-the-house-when-the-darkness/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [What advice would I give the average homeowner to protect himself against burglars? Well, the first thing is to keep a light on in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/what-advice-would-i-give-the-average-homeowner-to-protect-himself/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Promiscuity is like never reading past the first page. Monogamy is like reading the same book over and over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/promiscuity-is-like-never-reading-past-the-first-page-monogamy-is/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [“Monogamy is like croquet: you get the hang of it, eventually, but it’s never fun to play.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-nogueira-cury/monogamy-is-like-croquet-you-get-the-hang-of-it-eventually-but-it-s/) W. Nogueira Cury > [Mike Watt and I had the same teacher. Mr. Tanaka.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krist-novoselic/mike-watt-and-i-had-the-same-teacher-mr-tanaka/) [Krist Novoselic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krist-novoselic/) > [J.J. Watt is larger than life and Houstons newest sports hero, in every sense of the word. He is a guy who spends NFL…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-storm/j-j-watt-is-larger-than-life-and-houstons-newest-sports-hero-in-every/) [Hannah Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-storm/) > [“Is it possible that the Pentateuch could not have been written by uninspired men? that the assistance of God was necessary to produce these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/is-it-possible-that-the-pentateuch-could-not-have-been-written-by/) [Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/) > [“volt B. The watt”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/volt-b-the-watt/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [O thrice unhappy home Whose master doesn't know the difference between a watt and an ohm!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ogden-nash/o-thrice-unhappy-home-whose-master-doesn-t-know-the-difference/) [Ogden Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ogden-nash/) > [“I don't think I recognize you, sir, said Camier. I am Watt, said Watt. As you say, I'm unrecognizable. Watt? said Camier. The name…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/i-don-t-think-i-recognize-you-sir-said-camier-i-am-watt-said-watt-as/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [“I have been branded with folly and madness for attempting what the world calls impossibilities, and even from the great engineer, the late James…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-trevithick/i-have-been-branded-with-folly-and-madness-for-attempting-what-the/) Richard Trevithick > [Some days, you feel like a 22-year-old and some days you feel like a 40-year-old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-posada/some-days-you-feel-like-a-22-year-old-and-some-days-you-feel-like-a/) [Jorge Posada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-posada/) > [When you're around somebody like E-40, all you can do is watch and learn, and soak up game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-eazy/when-you-re-around-somebody-like-e-40-all-you-can-do-is-watch-and/) [G-Eazy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-eazy/) > [It's an honor to be able to tour with somebody I grew up listening to and somebody I look up to. When you're around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-eazy/it-s-an-honor-to-be-able-to-tour-with-somebody-i-grew-up-listening-to/) [G-Eazy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-eazy/) ## More by John Patrick Shanley > [Women consume, and they must be directed what to consume, or they may identify you as lunch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/women-consume-and-they-must-be-directed-what-to-consume-or-they-may/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) > [I did 'Doubt' as a film, a play and an opera.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/i-did-doubt-as-a-film-a-play-and-an-opera/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) > [“i don't know what your situation is but i wanted you to know what mine is not just to explain some rude behavior, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/i-don-t-know-what-your-situation-is-but-i-wanted-you-to-know-what/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) > [I'd like to thank everybody who ever punched or kissed me in my life and everybody who I ever punched or kissed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/i-d-like-to-thank-everybody-who-ever-punched-or-kissed-me-in-my-life/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) > [It wasn't until I was 35 or 36, when I wrote 'Danny and the Deep Blue Sea,' that I began to get some notoriety,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/it-wasn-t-until-i-was-35-or-36-when-i-wrote-danny-and-the-deep-blue/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) > [dear god, whose name i do not know. thank you for my life. i forgot... how BIG... thank you. thank you for my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/dear-god-whose-name-i-do-not-know-thank-you-for-my-life-i-forgot-how/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) > [I became a playwright and screenwriter. Italian-Americans were my particular specialty. I liked the way they talked. There was something free in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/i-became-a-playwright-and-screenwriter-italian-americans-were-my/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) > [I'm Irish as hell: Kelly on one side, Shanley on the other. My father had been born on a farm in the Irish Midlands.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/i-m-irish-as-hell-kelly-on-one-side-shanley-on-the-other-my-father/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) > [Monogamy is like a 40-watt bulb. It works, but its not enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/monogamy-is-like-a-40-watt-bulb-it-works-but-its-not-enough/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) > [People ask me if I believe in things: in God, in astrology, and I say, absolutely! I believe in everything! And I believe in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/people-ask-me-if-i-believe-in-things-in-god-in-astrology-and-i-say/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) > [I think that certainty is a closed door, It's the end of the conversation. Doubt is an open door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/i-think-that-certainty-is-a-closed-door-it-s-the-end-of-the/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) > [Back when you were doing plays like 'The Miracle Worker,' you had 20, 25 people in the cast. When you go to make the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/back-when-you-were-doing-plays-like-the-miracle-worker-you-had-20-25/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) > [Where the terror is, you must go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/where-the-terror-is-you-must-go/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) > ['The Miracle Worker' is just such an incredibly powerful play on stage, and is so kinetic, and athletic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/the-miracle-worker-is-just-such-an-incredibly-powerful-play-on-stage/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) > [Conscience is the most dangerous thing you possess. If you wake it up, it may destroy you. To live a life of total moral…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/conscience-is-the-most-dangerous-thing-you-possess-if-you-wake-it-up/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) [Explore all 48 John Patrick Shanley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) ## More Bulb quotes > [Mostly, I straddle reality and the imagination. My reality needs imagination like a bulb needs a socket. My imagination needs reality like a blind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/mostly-i-straddle-reality-and-the-imagination-my-reality-needs/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [I am on until I am dead, like a light bulb.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-am-on-until-i-am-dead-like-a-light-bulb/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [The bubble, as investing phenomenon, has been well studied ever since the 17th-century tulip bulb frenzy. Its counterpart in bear markets is not well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-bubble-as-investing-phenomenon-has-been-well-studied-ever-since/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [How many people does it take to change a searchlight bulb?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/how-many-people-does-it-take-to-change-a-searchlight-bulb/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [“A Bible not read is like a bulb not lighted. Only insane people will love to work in the darkness with Kings' bulbs which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/a-bible-not-read-is-like-a-bulb-not-lighted-only-insane-people-will/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“How many mystery writers does it take to change a light bulb?" "Two. One to screw the bulb almost all the way in, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jokes-about-writers-writers-jokes/how-many-mystery-writers-does-it-take-to-change-a-light-bulb-two-one/) Jokes About Writers - Writers Jokes > [Love is like a house, if a light bulb breaks you don't just get a new house you work to get new light bulbs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake/love-is-like-a-house-if-a-light-bulb-breaks-you-don-t-just-get-a-new/) Jake > [What am I? Am I the bulb that carries the light, or am I the light of which the bulb is a vehicle?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/what-am-i-am-i-the-bulb-that-carries-the-light-or-am-i-the-light-of/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [When I went to visit this rice cake plant, I hadn't realized how the rice cakes were made. As soon as I saw the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-belling/when-i-went-to-visit-this-rice-cake-plant-i-hadn-t-realized-how-the/) [Keith Belling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-belling/) > [“He was rather like a Christmas tree whose lights, wired in series, must all go out if even one bulb is defective.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/he-was-rather-like-a-christmas-tree-whose-lights-wired-in-series-must/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [“Step up to red alert." Sir, are you absolutely sure? It does mean changing the bulb." - Rimmer & Kryten, "Red Dwarf”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-grant-grant-naylor/step-up-to-red-alert-sir-are-you-absolutely-sure-it-does-mean/) Rob Grant; Grant Naylor > [“I will be forever grateful to Dora Brooking, for not only spotting my light bulb but also helping me turn up the wattage.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-pegg/i-will-be-forever-grateful-to-dora-brooking-for-not-only-spotting-my/) [Simon Pegg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-pegg/) > [The LED light bulb is more than ten times the efficiency of regular incandescent lighting, so it can save the world hundreds of billions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shuji-nakamura/the-led-light-bulb-is-more-than-ten-times-the-efficiency-of-regular/) [Shuji Nakamura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shuji-nakamura/) > [“Our job isn’t to turn our bulb down to make the person next to us more comfortable. Our job is to turn our bulb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crystal-zevon/our-job-isn-t-to-turn-our-bulb-down-to-make-the-person-next-to-us/) Crystal Zevon > [I was a little press writer when the National Endowment for the Arts came to my rescue and gave me an award. I couldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-cisneros/i-was-a-little-press-writer-when-the-national-endowment-for-the-arts/) [Sandra Cisneros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-cisneros/) Browse all 49 Bulb quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Monogamy is like a 40-watt bulb. 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