--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A sound marriage is not based on complete…" description: "\"A sound marriage is not based on complete frankness; it is based on a sensible reticence.\" — Morris L. Ernst" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9e/morris-l-ernst-109919_frankness_a-sound-marriage-is-not-based-on-complet_1999079.png" --- # A sound marriage is not based on complete frankness; it is… ![“A sound marriage is not based on complete frankness; it is based on a sensible reticence.” quote by Morris L. Ernst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9e/morris-l-ernst-109919_frankness_a-sound-marriage-is-not-based-on-complet_1999079.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9e/morris-l-ernst-109919_frankness_a-sound-marriage-is-not-based-on-complet_1999079.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9e/morris-l-ernst-109919_frankness_a-sound-marriage-is-not-based-on-complet_1999079.png) > “A sound marriage is not based on complete frankness; it is based on a sensible reticence.” [Morris L. Ernst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-l-ernst/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A healthy marriage balances openness with thoughtful restraint, avoiding over‑sharing while maintaining honesty. **In simple terms:** Marriage needs honest restraint. Key Takeaway Balance openness with discretion. Themes marriage communication trust balance Mood thoughtful balanced Type Frankness:1 Marriage:1 Reticence:1 Sensible:1 Sound:1 Marriage Based:1 Sound Marriage:1 Sensible Reticence:1 Based Sensible:1 When to use this quote - counseling - personal relationships - family life Key Concepts relationship dynamics psychology social norms Questions to Reflect On - How much should partners share? - When is discretion beneficial? A Different Perspective Too much secrecy can erode trust. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Based Sensible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/based-sensible-3506751/) [Frankness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frankness/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Marriage Based](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage-based-835453/) [Reticence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reticence/) [Sensible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sensible/) [Sensible Reticence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sensible-reticence-3506750/) [Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound/) [Sound Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound-marriage-3506749/) ## Related quotes > [A marriage based on full confidence, based on complete and unqualified frankness on both sides; they are not keeping anything back; there's no deception…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henrik-ibsen/a-marriage-based-on-full-confidence-based-on-complete-and-unqualified/) [Henrik Ibsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henrik-ibsen/) > [Every persisting marriage is based on fear', said Peregrine. 'Fear is fundamental, you dig down in human nature and what's at the bottom? Mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-murdoch/every-persisting-marriage-is-based-on-fear-said-peregrine-fear-is/) [Iris Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-murdoch/) > [“Successful Marriage is based on God's principles. Man love your wife, woman submit to your husband.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anyaele-sam-chiyson/successful-marriage-is-based-on-god-s-principles-man-love-your-wife/) [Anyaele Sam Chiyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anyaele-sam-chiyson/) > [“Because you do not happen to be married does not make you essentially different from others. All of us are very much alike in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/because-you-do-not-happen-to-be-married-does-not-make-you-essentially/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [“Marriage is based on a more enduring kind of love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-atkinson/marriage-is-based-on-a-more-enduring-kind-of-love/) [Kate Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-atkinson/) > [My grandparents got married at a very young age, and a lot of what I think about marriage is based on their relationship. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-chandler/my-grandparents-got-married-at-a-very-young-age-and-a-lot-of-what-i/) [Kyle Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-chandler/) > [“The evangelical refuses to bake for a same-sex wedding because she objects to same-sex marriage, based on her belief that it isn’t marital (along…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corvino/the-evangelical-refuses-to-bake-for-a-same-sex-wedding-because-she/) [John Corvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corvino/) > [In the West, marriage is collapsing because it is based on love. And a marriage that is based on love is bound to fail.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/in-the-west-marriage-is-collapsing-because-it-is-based-on-love-and-a/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [I can say I've been a loyal husband. Marriage is based on trust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ranjeet/i-can-say-i-ve-been-a-loyal-husband-marriage-is-based-on-trust/) [Ranjeet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ranjeet/) > [I'm very ambivalent in my feelings about marriage. I think it promises a lot to people... sort of like saying, once you get married…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-jagger/i-m-very-ambivalent-in-my-feelings-about-marriage-i-think-it-promises/) [Mick Jagger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mick-jagger/) > [The Christian idea of marriage is based on Christ's words that a man and wife are to be regarded as a single organism -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-christian-idea-of-marriage-is-based-on-christ-s-words-that-a-man/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I prefer Ms. because it is similar to Mr. A man is Mr. whether married or not, a woman is Ms. whether married or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/i-prefer-ms-because-it-is-similar-to-mr-a-man-is-mr-whether-married/) [Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/) > [The marriage-based society...discourages all the competing alternatives to marriage. You can't have a marriage-based society and a social value of sexual freedom. They don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-lively/the-marriage-based-society-discourages-all-the-competing-alternatives/) [Scott Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-lively/) > [To persons of spirit like ourselves the only happy marriage is that which is based on a firm foundation of almost incessant quarrelling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-persons-of-spirit-like-ourselves-the-only-happy-marriage-is-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The sacrament of marriage is based on a man and woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/the-sacrament-of-marriage-is-based-on-a-man-and-woman/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) ## More by Morris L. Ernst > [More errors arise from inhibited indecision than from impulsive behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-l-ernst/more-errors-arise-from-inhibited-indecision-than-from-impulsive/) [Morris L. Ernst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-l-ernst/) [Explore all 2 Morris L. Ernst quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-l-ernst/) ## More Frankness quotes > [You must study to be frank with the world: frankness is the child of honesty and courage. Say just what you mean to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/you-must-study-to-be-frank-with-the-world-frankness-is-the-child-of/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [The 'frankness' of people sunk below shame is a very cheap frankness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/the-frankness-of-people-sunk-below-shame-is-a-very-cheap-frankness/) [C. S. 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It wasn't, of course, simply the onions -- it was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-greene/and-yet-could-swear-it-was-just-then-that-i-fell-in-love-it-wasn-t-of/) [Graham Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-greene/) > [“Oh yes, I am frequently driven to an enraged frenzy by the blatantly crass actions of others. But to be painfully honest, that anger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/oh-yes-i-am-frequently-driven-to-an-enraged-frenzy-by-the-blatantly/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [You must study to be frank with the world: Frankness is the child of honesty and courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/you-must-study-to-be-frank-with-the-world-frankness-is-the-child-of-2/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [Revealing yourself, physically or emotionally, to cast and crew is frequently uncomfortable. But it is essential if you want to to tell the truth.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gale-harold/revealing-yourself-physically-or-emotionally-to-cast-and-crew-is/) [Gale Harold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gale-harold/) > [There are too many false things in the world, and I don't want to be a part of them. If you say what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-bench/there-are-too-many-false-things-in-the-world-and-i-don-t-want-to-be-a/) [Johnny Bench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-bench/) > [We are franker towards others than towards ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/we-are-franker-towards-others-than-towards-ourselves/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [I have a different idea of elegance. I don't dress like a fop, it's true, but my moral grooming is impeccable. I never appear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmond-rostand/i-have-a-different-idea-of-elegance-i-don-t-dress-like-a-fop-it-s/) [Edmond Rostand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmond-rostand/) > [Frankness is a jewel; only the young can afford it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/frankness-is-a-jewel-only-the-young-can-afford-it/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Life is too short to be little. Man is never so manly as when he feels deeply, acts boldly, and expresses himself with frankness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/life-is-too-short-to-be-little-man-is-never-so-manly-as-when-he-feels/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [A marriage based on full confidence, based on complete and unqualified frankness on both sides; they are not keeping anything back; there's no deception…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henrik-ibsen/a-marriage-based-on-full-confidence-based-on-complete-and-unqualified/) [Henrik Ibsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henrik-ibsen/) > [“The mutual preference of frankness over flattery is what leads to iron sharpening iron.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torry-martin/the-mutual-preference-of-frankness-over-flattery-is-what-leads-to/) [Torry Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torry-martin/) [Browse all 82 Frankness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frankness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A sound marriage is not based on complete frankness; it is based on a sensible reticence.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Morris L. 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