---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What good is talking if neither of you…"
description: "\"What good is talking if neither of you are really committed? If one of you had an affair or got addicted to drugs or was abusive, simply talking about ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e68/nicholas-sparks-93_abusive_what-good-is-talking-if-neither-of-you-a_38488.jpg"
---

#  What good is talking if neither of you are really…

![“What good is talking if neither of you are really committed? If one of you had an affair or got addicted to drugs or was abusive, simply talking about it wouldn;t take the hurt away; or fix the trust that's been lost. In the end, marriage comes down to actions. I think people talk too much about…” quote by Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e68/nicholas-sparks-93_abusive_what-good-is-talking-if-neither-of-you-a_38488.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e68/nicholas-sparks-93_abusive_what-good-is-talking-if-neither-of-you-a_38488.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e68/nicholas-sparks-93_abusive_what-good-is-talking-if-neither-of-you-a_38488.jpg)

> “What good is talking if neither of you are really committed? If one of you had an affair or got addicted to drugs or was abusive, simply talking about it wouldn;t take the hurt away; or fix the trust that's been lost. In the end, marriage comes down to actions. I think people talk too much about the things that bother them, instead of actually doing the little things that keep a marriage strong.”

[Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Talk alone cannot repair deep betrayals; genuine commitment is shown through consistent actions that rebuild trust and strengthen a marriage.

**In simple terms:** Actions, not words, sustain marriage.

Key Takeaway

Trust requires deeds, not dialogue.

Themes

commitment trust communication actions relationships

Mood

reflective serious hopeful

Type

advice observation reflection

When to use this quote

- after an affair
- during addiction recovery
- when abuse occurs
- in everyday marriage

Key Concepts

trust rebuilding behavioral consistency marital health

Practical Applications

- relationship counseling
- marriage workshops

Questions to Reflect On

- How can partners translate promises into daily habits?
- What small actions most effectively restore trust?

A Different Perspective

None

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Affair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affair/) [Drug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drug/) [Little things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-things/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Marriage Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage-strong/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Trust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trust/)

## Related quotes

> [Marriage has the power to set the course of your life as a whole. If your marriage is strong, even if all the circumstances…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/marriage-has-the-power-to-set-the-course-of-your-life-as-a-whole-if/)

[Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/)

> [How hard it is to have the beautiful interdependence of marriage and yet be strong in oneself alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/how-hard-it-is-to-have-the-beautiful-interdependence-of-marriage-and/)

[Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/)

> [The greatest love survives the harshest of condition's, and surviving that turmoil is what makes a marriage strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-moores/the-greatest-love-survives-the-harshest-of-condition-s-and-surviving/)

[Sarah Moores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-moores/)

> [“Great kings and queens know to learn from those who had have great personal success in the area they taught. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kailin-gow/great-kings-and-queens-know-to-learn-from-those-who-had-have-great/)

[Kailin Gow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kailin-gow/)

> [“That was her favorite part, the moments of laughter and silliness. In some way, these times made their marriage strong, kept her more in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-kingsbury-ocean-s-apart/that-was-her-favorite-part-the-moments-of-laughter-and-silliness-in/)

[Karen Kingsbury Ocean's Apart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-kingsbury-ocean-s-apart/)

> [No matter how free divorce, how frequently marriages break up, in most societies there is the assumption of permanent mating, of the idea that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/no-matter-how-free-divorce-how-frequently-marriages-break-up-in-most/)

[Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/)

> [I think long-lasting, healthy relationships are more important than the idea of marriage. At the root of every successful marriage is a strong partnership.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-daly/i-think-long-lasting-healthy-relationships-are-more-important-than/)

[Carson Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-daly/)

> [Take an active interest in your wifes hobbies. Spending time together doing something she enjoys can make your marriage stronger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/take-an-active-interest-in-your-wifes-hobbies-spending-time-together/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The mere idea of marriage, as a strong possibility, if not always nowadays a reasonable likelihood, existing to weaken the will by distracting its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bolitho/the-mere-idea-of-marriage-as-a-strong-possibility-if-not-always/)

[William Bolitho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bolitho/)

> [We are properly ready for marriage when we are strong enough to embrace a life of frustration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/we-are-properly-ready-for-marriage-when-we-are-strong-enough-to/)

[Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/)

> [One of our goals is to encourage other families and parents that their marriage can be strong even if they have kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-bob-duggar/one-of-our-goals-is-to-encourage-other-families-and-parents-that/)

[Jim Bob Duggar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-bob-duggar/)

> [“On page 607, alluding to the end of my first marriage (and carefully remembering to state that that's none of his business), he very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/on-page-607-alluding-to-the-end-of-my-first-marriage-and-carefully/)

[Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/)

> [In God's intention, a meet and happy conversation is the chiefest and noblest end of marriage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/in-god-s-intention-a-meet-and-happy-conversation-is-the-chiefest-and/)

[John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/)

> [It might be better - more comfortable - to have a dog and two cats. All the love is focused on the cats and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/it-might-be-better-more-comfortable-to-have-a-dog-and-two-cats-all/)

[Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/)

> [“I’ll say because each marriage is different and people cheat for so many different reasons. Some people cheat because they can, because they know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-asher/i-ll-say-because-each-marriage-is-different-and-people-cheat-for-so/)

[Mia Asher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-asher/)

## More by Nicholas Sparks

> [“What's the best thing about being in college? Good teachers. They inspire you, they entertain you, and you end up learning a ton even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/what-s-the-best-thing-about-being-in-college-good-teachers-they/)

[Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/)

> [“Nothing is ever lost nor can be lost; the body aged, sluggish,cold… the embers left from earlier fires shall dully flame again”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/nothing-is-ever-lost-nor-can-be-lost-the-body-aged-sluggish-cold-the/)

[Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/)

> [I'm sure you think that I don't understand what you're going through, but I do. It's just that sometimes, our future is dictated by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/i-m-sure-you-think-that-i-don-t-understand-what-you-re-going-through/)

[Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/)

> [“You weren't out there that long, were you? I can't bear to think that no one found you right away." Noah shook his head.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/you-weren-t-out-there-that-long-were-you-i-can-t-bear-to-think-that/)

[Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/)

> [“And in your smile, I will live forever”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/and-in-your-smile-i-will-live-forever/)

[Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/)

> [When we first met, I didn't want to get involved with anyone. I didn't have the time or energy, and I wasn't sure that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/when-we-first-met-i-didn-t-want-to-get-involved-with-anyone-i-didn-t/)

[Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/)

> [“There is something terrible in the moments after waking up, when the subconscious knows that something terrible has happened but before all the memories…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/there-is-something-terrible-in-the-moments-after-waking-up-when-the/)

[Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/)

> [There is nothing like love. You should try it.” Thibault shrugged. “Maybe one day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/there-is-nothing-like-love-you-should-try-it-thibault-shrugged-maybe/)

[Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/)

> [“more time she’d spent with him, the more convinced she became that he was by far the sexiest guy she’d ever met. Who else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/more-time-she-d-spent-with-him-the-more-convinced-she-became-that-he/)

[Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/)

> [Dear John, tell me everything. Write it all down, that way, we’ll be with each other all the time, even if we’re not with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/dear-john-tell-me-everything-write-it-all-down-that-way-we-ll-be-with/)

[Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/)

> [You were spying on us?" "It was kind of hard not to. You were right there by the workshop with Will. it looked like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/you-were-spying-on-us-it-was-kind-of-hard-not-to-you-were-right-there/)

[Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/)

> [There are lots of real men out there - men who could fall in love with you at the drop of a hat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/there-are-lots-of-real-men-out-there-men-who-could-fall-in-love-with/)

[Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/)

> [...nothing wonderful lasted forever. Joy was as fleeting as a shooting star that crossed the evening sky, ready to blink out at any moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/nothing-wonderful-lasted-forever-joy-was-as-fleeting-as-a-shooting/)

[Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/)

> [He put his arms around her. “Well, in my defense, then, whatever I did seemed to work, didn't it?” She sighed. “I suppose.” “You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/he-put-his-arms-around-her-well-in-my-defense-then-whatever-i-did/)

[Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/)

> [I don't know. I really don't. While I was in the living room, I kept asking myself what I really wanted in life." She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/i-don-t-know-i-really-don-t-while-i-was-in-the-living-room-i-kept/)

[Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/)

[Explore all 1,309 Nicholas Sparks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/)

## More Abusive quotes

> [“God, I was a mess when it came to Derrek. One part relief that I wasn’t still with him. One part embarrassment that I’d…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-higginson/god-i-was-a-mess-when-it-came-to-derrek-one-part-relief-that-i-wasn-t/)

[Rachel Higginson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-higginson/)

> [One of the things we're all going to have to discover, establishment is just an abusive term for institutions. It's institutions that keep us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-frum/one-of-the-things-we-re-all-going-to-have-to-discover-establishment/)

[David Frum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-frum/)

> [“KINGDOM OF THE WOMB From her thighs, she gives you life And how you treat she who gives you life Shows how much you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/kingdom-of-the-womb-from-her-thighs-she-gives-you-life-and-how-you/)

[Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/)

> [An abusive relationship? A cheating Ex Partner? Family who constantly disrespect you? Those are just a few examples of bridges that should rightly be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/an-abusive-relationship-a-cheating-ex-partner-family-who-constantly/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I have a temper, but I wouldn't call me abusive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tatum-o-neal/i-have-a-temper-but-i-wouldn-t-call-me-abusive/)

[Tatum O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tatum-o-neal/)

> [I wouldn't mind being in an abusive relationship with you babes only if you would punch me with her tits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/i-wouldn-t-mind-being-in-an-abusive-relationship-with-you-babes-only/)

[Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/)

> [“The woman knows from living with the abusive man that there are no simple answers. Friends say: “He’s mean.” But she knows many ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lundy-bancroft/the-woman-knows-from-living-with-the-abusive-man-that-there-are-no/)

[Lundy Bancroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lundy-bancroft/)

> [I am asking my Attorney General to create a special unit of federal prosecutors and leading state attorneys general to expand our investigations into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-am-asking-my-attorney-general-to-create-a-special-unit-of-federal/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [Intolerance has always been one of the cornerstones of Christianity - the glorious heritage of the Inquisition. It's no coincidence that most of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madalyn-murray-o-hair/intolerance-has-always-been-one-of-the-cornerstones-of-christianity/)

[Madalyn Murray O'Hair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madalyn-murray-o-hair/)

> [“Dr. Lois Jolyon West was cleared at Top Secret for his work on MKULTRA. West's numerous connections to the mind control network illustrate how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-a-ross/dr-lois-jolyon-west-was-cleared-at-top-secret-for-his-work-on-mkultra/)

[Colin A. Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-a-ross/)

> [My father was actually controlling and abusive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vidya-vox/my-father-was-actually-controlling-and-abusive/)

[Vidya Vox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vidya-vox/)

> [With someone who is genuinely abusive or a bad person, you should just get out of town. But if they're being the best person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christie-hefner/with-someone-who-is-genuinely-abusive-or-a-bad-person-you-should-just/)

[Christie Hefner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christie-hefner/)

> [This new world was a vicious, sleek world made of street lights and tight jeans, sharp smiles and fast cars. This was a city,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/this-new-world-was-a-vicious-sleek-world-made-of-street-lights-and/)

[Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/)

> [“Just start somewhere," Dr. Marshall had said to me as I ground a banana-pineapple one to bits between my teeth. "It doesn't have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/just-start-somewhere-dr-marshall-had-said-to-me-as-i-ground-a-banana/)

[Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/)

> [“We were always driven by a gray-haired man in the foster-care agency car. I remember leaving that abusive home, pulling out of the driveway,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-black/we-were-always-driven-by-a-gray-haired-man-in-the-foster-care-agency/)

[Damien Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-black/)

Browse all 311 Abusive quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "What good is talking if neither of you are really committed? If one of you had an affair or got addicted to drugs or was abusive, simply talking about it wouldn;t take the hurt away; or fix the trust that's been lost. In the end, marriage comes down to actions. I think people talk too much about the things that bother them, instead of actually doing the little things that keep a marriage strong.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Nicholas Sparks"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/what-good-is-talking-if-neither-of-you-are-really-committed-if-one-of/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Abusive"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/what-good-is-talking-if-neither-of-you-are-really-committed-if-one-of/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e68/nicholas-sparks-93_abusive_what-good-is-talking-if-neither-of-you-a_38488.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e68/nicholas-sparks-93_abusive_what-good-is-talking-if-neither-of-you-a_38488.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e68/nicholas-sparks-93_abusive_what-good-is-talking-if-neither-of-you-a_38488.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“What good is talking if neither of you are really committed? If one of you had an affair or got addicted to…” — Nicholas Sparks",
                "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": "Nicholas Sparks",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "What good is talking if neither...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/what-good-is-talking-if-neither-of-you-are-really-committed-if-one-of/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/what-good-is-talking-if-neither-of-you-are-really-committed-if-one-of/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
