--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Marriage is hardly a thing that one can…" description: "\"“Marriage is hardly a thing that one can do now and then, Harry. Except in America, rejoined Lord Henry, languidly.”\" — Oscar Wilde" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ca/oscar-wilde-16_lord-henry_marriage-is-hardly-a-thing-that-one-can_856318.jpg" --- # Marriage is hardly a thing that one can do now and then… ![“Marriage is hardly a thing that one can do now and then, Harry. Except in America, rejoined Lord Henry, languidly.” quote by Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ca/oscar-wilde-16_lord-henry_marriage-is-hardly-a-thing-that-one-can_856318.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ca/oscar-wilde-16_lord-henry_marriage-is-hardly-a-thing-that-one-can_856318.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ca/oscar-wilde-16_lord-henry_marriage-is-hardly-a-thing-that-one-can_856318.jpg) > ““Marriage is hardly a thing that one can do now and then, Harry. Except in America, rejoined Lord Henry, languidly.”” [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. Marriage is portrayed as a rare, serious commitment, especially contrasted with American casualness, reflecting cultural attitudes. **In simple terms:** Marriage is serious, not casual, especially in America. Key Takeaway Consider the depth of commitment before marriage. Themes marriage culture commitment Mood thoughtful analytical Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - courtship - legal contracts - family planning - cross‑cultural relationships Key Concepts social norms cultural contrast Questions to Reflect On - Do cultural stereotypes affect personal decisions? - What values define a serious commitment? A Different Perspective The quote may generalize American attitudes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Lord henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lord-henry/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Marriage is hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage-is-hard/) ## Related quotes > [Marriage is hardly a thing one can do now and then, except in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/marriage-is-hardly-a-thing-one-can-do-now-and-then-except-in-america/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Obama's endorsement of gay marriage is hardly as consequential as Johnson's legislative success on civil rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-dallek/obama-s-endorsement-of-gay-marriage-is-hardly-as-consequential-as/) [Robert Dallek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-dallek/) > [Many a marriage hardly differs from prostitution, except being harder to escape from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/many-a-marriage-hardly-differs-from-prostitution-except-being-harder/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“Natalie was bored in her marriage. At first she could hardly admit it to herself. After all, they were a perfect match: similar backgrounds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-becker-holstein/natalie-was-bored-in-her-marriage-at-first-she-could-hardly-admit-it/) [Barbara Becker Holstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-becker-holstein/) > [“Lord Henry looked at him. Yes, he was certainly wonderfully handsome, with his finely curved scarlet lips, his frank blue eyes, his crisp gold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/lord-henry-looked-at-him-yes-he-was-certainly-wonderfully-handsome/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“By the way, Dorian, he (Lord Henry) said, after a pause, what does it profit a man if he gain the whole world and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/by-the-way-dorian-he-lord-henry-said-after-a-pause-what-does-it/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“The wind shook some blossoms from the trees, and the heavy lilac blooms, with their clustering stars, moved to and fro in the languid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-wind-shook-some-blossoms-from-the-trees-and-the-heavy-lilac/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Lord Henry smiled. People are very fond of giving away what they need most themselves. It is what I call the depth of generosity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/lord-henry-smiled-people-are-very-fond-of-giving-away-what-they-need/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Life has everything in store for you, Dorian. There is nothing that you, with your extraordinary good looks, will not be able to do."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/life-has-everything-in-store-for-you-dorian-there-is-nothing-that-you/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Basil Hallward is what I think I am: Lord Henry what the world thinks me: Dorian what I would like to be—in other ages,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/basil-hallward-is-what-i-think-i-am-lord-henry-what-the-world-thinks/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Sin is the only real colour-element left in modern life.' 'You really must not say things like that before Dorian, Harry.' 'Before which Dorian?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/sin-is-the-only-real-colour-element-left-in-modern-life-you-really/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Women are wonderfully practical,' murmured Lord Henry, 'much more practical than we are. In situations of that kind we often forget to say anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/women-are-wonderfully-practical-murmured-lord-henry-much-more/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Lord Henry looked serious for some moments, 'It is perfectly monstrous,' he said at last, 'the way people go about nowadays saying things against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/lord-henry-looked-serious-for-some-moments-it-is-perfectly-monstrous/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“I suppose you have heard the news, Basil?" said Lord Henry that evening as Hallward was shown into a little private room at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-suppose-you-have-heard-the-news-basil-said-lord-henry-that-evening/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“We can have in life but one great experience at best, and the secret of life is to reproduce that experience as often as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/we-can-have-in-life-but-one-great-experience-at-best-and-the-secret/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) ## 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 Harry quotes > [Hats off to starting a franchise younger than we all did in 'Twilight' and keeping your cool. The 'Harry Potter' men and women had,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellan-lutz/hats-off-to-starting-a-franchise-younger-than-we-all-did-in-twilight/) [Kellan Lutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellan-lutz/) > [“Snape pointed at the parchment, on which the words of Messrs Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs were still shining.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/snape-pointed-at-the-parchment-on-which-the-words-of-messrs-moony/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [“But I really am Ravenclaw, you know, not Slytherin. I don't want to rule the universe. I just think it could be more sensibly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/but-i-really-am-ravenclaw-you-know-not-slytherin-i-don-t-want-to-rule/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [Your aunt and uncle will be proud, though, won't they?" said Hermione as they got off the train and joined the crowd thronging toward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/your-aunt-and-uncle-will-be-proud-though-won-t-they-said-hermione-as/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Harry Truman wrote scathing letters, but he almost never sent them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-dallek/harry-truman-wrote-scathing-letters-but-he-almost-never-sent-them/) [Robert Dallek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-dallek/) > [Witness for the defense, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/witness-for-the-defense-albus-percival-wulfric-brian-dumbledore/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Sybill Trelawney, Divination teacher,’” Harry read. “How’re we supposed to get up there?” As though in answer to his question, the trapdoor suddenly opened,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/sybill-trelawney-divination-teacher-harry-read-how-re-we-supposed-to/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [“Harry et Ron furent enchantés d’entendre Hagrid qualifier Rusard de « vieille ganache ».”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/harry-et-ron-furent-enchant-s-d-entendre-hagrid-qualifier-rusard-de/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [“I'll join you when Hell freezes over," said Neville. "Dumbledore's Army!" he shouted, and there was an answering cheer from the crowd, whom Voldemort's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-ll-join-you-when-hell-freezes-over-said-neville-dumbledore-s-army/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [“Potter! Weasley! What are you doing?” It was Professor McGonagall, and her mouth was the thinnest of thin lines. “We were — we were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/potter-weasley-what-are-you-doing-it-was-professor-mcgonagall-and-her/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [“Psst!” said a voice, and he looked around to see a wispy little witch and the ferrety wizard from Magical Maintenance gesturing to him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/psst-said-a-voice-and-he-looked-around-to-see-a-wispy-little-witch/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [“He who is destined for the gallows will not drown, as we say in Norwegian,” Harry said. “What?” “I agree.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-nesb/he-who-is-destined-for-the-gallows-will-not-drown-as-we-say-in/) [Jo Nesbø](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-nesb/) > [“Gryffindor is the courageous one right? 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Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) Browse all 1,108 Harry quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Marriage is hardly a thing that one can do now and then, Harry. 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