--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But don't you think one can be happy when…" description: "\"“But don't you think one can be happy when on is married? Perfectly happy. But the happiness of a married man, my dear Gerald, depends on the people he..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a06/oscar-wilde-16_happiness_but-don-t-you-think-one-can-be-happy-whe_1702423.jpg" --- # But don't you think one can be happy when on is married?… ![“But don't you think one can be happy when on is married? Perfectly happy. But the happiness of a married man, my dear Gerald, depends on the people he has not married. But if one is in love? One should always be in love. That is the reason one should never marry.” quote by Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a06/oscar-wilde-16_happiness_but-don-t-you-think-one-can-be-happy-whe_1702423.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a06/oscar-wilde-16_happiness_but-don-t-you-think-one-can-be-happy-whe_1702423.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a06/oscar-wilde-16_happiness_but-don-t-you-think-one-can-be-happy-whe_1702423.jpg) > ““But don't you think one can be happy when on is married? Perfectly happy. But the happiness of a married man, my dear Gerald, depends on the people he has not married. But if one is in love? One should always be in love. That is the reason one should never marry.”” [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker humorously argues that happiness is independent of marriage, suggesting love should be perpetual and marriage unnecessary. **In simple terms:** Happiness isn’t tied to marriage; love should be constant. Key Takeaway Seek love and joy beyond marital status. Themes love marriage happiness philosophy Mood witty philosophical satirical Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - relationships - marital expectations - personal fulfillment - social conventions Key Concepts existentialism social critique satire Questions to Reflect On - Is perpetual love realistic? - What role does marriage play in happiness? A Different Perspective Romantic idealism can ignore practical partnership needs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Happy married](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happy-married/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Married love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/married-love/) [Married man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/married-man/) ## Related quotes > [The proper basis for marriage is mutual misunderstanding. The happiness of a married man depends on the people he has not married. 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That is the reason one should never marry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/one-should-always-be-in-love-that-is-the-reason-one-should-never-marry/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“It's most dangerous nowadays for a husband to pay any attention to his wife in public. It always makes people think that he beats…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/it-s-most-dangerous-nowadays-for-a-husband-to-pay-any-attention-to/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Really, this horrid House of Commons quite ruins our husbands for us. I think the Lower House by far the greatest blow to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/really-this-horrid-house-of-commons-quite-ruins-our-husbands-for-us-i/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [The world has grown suspicious of anything that looks like a happy married life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-world-has-grown-suspicious-of-anything-that-looks-like-a-happy/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Elinor now found the difference between the expectation of an unpleasant event, however certain the mind may be told to consider it, and certainty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/elinor-now-found-the-difference-between-the-expectation-of-an-2/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [True happiness is being married to your best friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-louise-divino/true-happiness-is-being-married-to-your-best-friend/) Nicole Louise Divino > [Happiness is being married to your best friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-weeks/happiness-is-being-married-to-your-best-friend/) Barbara Weeks > [A man doesn't know what happiness is until he's married. By then it's too late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sinatra/a-man-doesn-t-know-what-happiness-is-until-he-s-married-by-then-it-s/) [Frank Sinatra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sinatra/) > [ “\[Olga's dreams of happiness:\] Get married, always live in the countryside winter and summer, see only good people, no one official.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-azar/olga-s-dreams-of-happiness-get-married-always-live-in-the-countryside/) Helen Azar > [The happiness of married life depends upon making small sacrifices with readiness and cheerfulness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-selden/the-happiness-of-married-life-depends-upon-making-small-sacrifices/) [John Selden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-selden/) > [There cannot be any great happiness in the married life except each in turn give up his or her own humors and lesser inclinations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-richardson/there-cannot-be-any-great-happiness-in-the-married-life-except-each/) [Samuel Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-richardson/) > [Nobody ever wins by the cavalry coming to rescue you. It isn't a question of you're happy if you get married, or you get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maeve-binchy/nobody-ever-wins-by-the-cavalry-coming-to-rescue-you-it-isn-t-a/) [Maeve Binchy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maeve-binchy/) ## More by Oscar Wilde > [How else but through a broken heart may Lord Christ enter in?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/how-else-but-through-a-broken-heart-may-lord-christ-enter-in/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [The books that the world calls immoral are the books that show the world its own shame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-books-that-the-world-calls-immoral-are-the-books-that-show-the/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Bachelors should be heavily taxed. It is not fair that some men should be happier than others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/bachelors-should-be-heavily-taxed-it-is-not-fair-that-some-men-should/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Who, being loved, is poor?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/who-being-loved-is-poor/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Basil my dear boy puts everything that is charming in him into his work. The consequence is that he has nothing left for life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/basil-my-dear-boy-puts-everything-that-is-charming-in-him-into-his/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Anybody can be good in the country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/anybody-can-be-good-in-the-country/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [I don't at all like knowing what people say of me behind my back. It makes me far too conceited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-don-t-at-all-like-knowing-what-people-say-of-me-behind-my-back-it/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Alles Populäre ist falsch.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/alles-popul-re-ist-falsch/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“If these elements of beauty are real, the whole thing simply appeals to our sense of dramatic effect. Suddenly we find that we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/if-these-elements-of-beauty-are-real-the-whole-thing-simply-appeals/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [To love one's self is the beginning of a life-long romance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/to-love-one-s-self-is-the-beginning-of-a-life-long-romance/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Those who find beautiful meanings in beautiful things are the cultivated. For these there is hope.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/those-who-find-beautiful-meanings-in-beautiful-things-are-the/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Men always want to be a womans first love. Women have a more subtle instinct: What they like is to be a mans last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/men-always-want-to-be-a-womans-first-love-women-have-a-more-subtle/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Why is it that at a bachelor's establishment the servants invariably drink the champagne.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/why-is-it-that-at-a-bachelor-s-establishment-the-servants-invariably/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Moderation is a fatal thing. Enough is as bad as a meal. More than enough is as good as a feast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/moderation-is-a-fatal-thing-enough-is-as-bad-as-a-meal-more-than/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Beauty is the only thing that time cannot harm. Philosophies fall away like sand, creeds follow one another, but what is beautiful is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/beauty-is-the-only-thing-that-time-cannot-harm-philosophies-fall-away/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) [Explore all 3,343 Oscar Wilde quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) ## More Happiness quotes > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Remember that your natural state is joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/remember-that-your-natural-state-is-joy/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [Balance suggests a perfect equilibrium. There is no such thing. That is a false expectation… There are going to be priorities and dimensions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-morrison/balance-suggests-a-perfect-equilibrium-there-is-no-such-thing-that-is/) [Denise Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-morrison/) > [“WE CAN'T ALWAYS CONTROL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES BUT WE CAN CONTROL OUR ATTITUDE. WE MUST BE MORE CONCERNED WITH WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT HAPPENS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/we-can-t-always-control-our-circumstances-but-we-can-control-our/) [MARVIN J. ASHTON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [I can skate beautifully. While performing on ice I always try to please the audience and to win as well. Being artistic is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeni-plushenko/i-can-skate-beautifully-while-performing-on-ice-i-always-try-to/) [Evgeni Plushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeni-plushenko/) > [Sometimes we wish for the feel but we never understand that we have to give a lot to get the feel !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reynolds/sometimes-we-wish-for-the-feel-but-we-never-understand-that-we-have/) [Robert Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reynolds/) > [Sing like no one's listening, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching, and live like its heaven on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/sing-like-no-one-s-listening-love-like-you-ve-never-been-hurt-dance/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“It was beautiful. He thought he had never seen anything so beautiful in all his life; that, having seen it, he could die content,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/it-was-beautiful-he-thought-he-had-never-seen-anything-so-beautiful/) [Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/) > [The happy have whole days,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colley-cibber/the-happy-have-whole-days/) [Colley Cibber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colley-cibber/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [I've got nothing to do today but smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ve-got-nothing-to-do-today-but-smile/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Her dignity consists in being unknown to the world; her glory is in the esteem of her husband; her pleasures in the happiness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/her-dignity-consists-in-being-unknown-to-the-world-her-glory-is-in/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [The size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-size-of-a-man-s-understanding-might-always-be-justly-measured-by/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Positive thinking evokes more energy, more initiative, more happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/positive-thinking-evokes-more-energy-more-initiative-more-happiness/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) Pancho Barnes [Browse all 40,288 Happiness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“But don't you think one can be happy when on is married? 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