--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The one charm about marriage is that it…" description: "\"The one charm about marriage is that it makes a life of deception absolutely necessary for both parties.\" — Oscar Wilde" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/281/oscar-wilde-16_charm_the-one-charm-about-marriage-is-that-it_1284432.jpg" --- # The one charm about marriage is that it makes a life of… ![“The one charm about marriage is that it makes a life of deception absolutely necessary for both parties.” quote by Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/281/oscar-wilde-16_charm_the-one-charm-about-marriage-is-that-it_1284432.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/281/oscar-wilde-16_charm_the-one-charm-about-marriage-is-that-it_1284432.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/281/oscar-wilde-16_charm_the-one-charm-about-marriage-is-that-it_1284432.jpg) > “The one charm about marriage is that it makes a life of deception absolutely necessary for both parties.” [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. Wilde satirically notes that marriage inherently requires mutual deception, highlighting the social contracts and pretenses within relationships. **In simple terms:** Marriage needs mutual deception. Key Takeaway Recognize honesty’s role in partnerships. Themes marriage deception social contracts Mood wry thoughtful Type satirical philosophical When to use this quote - wedding planning - relationship counseling - literary analysis Key Concepts irony human nature Questions to Reflect On - Is deception inevitable in marriage? - What alternatives exist for authentic partnership? A Different Perspective Idealizes deception, ignoring trust. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Charm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charm/) [Deception](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deception/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) ## Related quotes > [The one charm of marriage is that it makes a life of deception absolutely necessary for both parties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-one-charm-of-marriage-is-that-it-makes-a-life-of-deception/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“You seem to forget that I am married, and the one charm of marriage is that it makes a life of deception absolutely necessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/you-seem-to-forget-that-i-am-married-and-the-one-charm-of-marriage-is/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“You seem to forget that I am married, and the one charm of marriage is that it makes a life of deception absolutely necessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/you-seem-to-forget-that-i-am-married-and-the-one-charm-of-marriage-is-2/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“The real drawback to marriage is that it makes one unselfish. And unselfish people are colourless. They lack individuality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-real-drawback-to-marriage-is-that-it-makes-one-unselfish-and-2/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Life is all about deception, lad, never let anyone know the true state of things around you. Then you'll have the surprise over them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-kirk/life-is-all-about-deception-lad-never-let-anyone-know-the-true-state/) David Kirk > [To a shameful extent, the charm of marriage boils down to how unpleasant it is to be alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/to-a-shameful-extent-the-charm-of-marriage-boils-down-to-how/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [Though marriage makes man and wife one flesh, it leaves 'em still two fools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-congreve/though-marriage-makes-man-and-wife-one-flesh-it-leaves-em-still-two/) [William Congreve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-congreve/) > [A marriage...makes of two fractional lives a whole; it gives to two purposeless lives a work, and doubles the strength of each to perform…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/a-marriage-makes-of-two-fractional-lives-a-whole-it-gives-to-two/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [The only sense marriage makes is to share property, your children inherit the name and all that... it is all legal reasons to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhay-deol/the-only-sense-marriage-makes-is-to-share-property-your-children/) [Abhay Deol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhay-deol/) > [We recognize that same-sex marriage makes some people deeply uncomfortable. However, inertia and apprehension are not legitimate bases for denying same-sex couples due process…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-franklin-floyd/we-recognize-that-same-sex-marriage-makes-some-people-deeply/) Henry Franklin Floyd > [The worst of marriage is that it makes a woman believe that all other men are just as easy to fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/the-worst-of-marriage-is-that-it-makes-a-woman-believe-that-all-other/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [You have not looked at the poor woman for years, for the simple reason that marriage makes things so certain. Marriage makes things so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/you-have-not-looked-at-the-poor-woman-for-years-for-the-simple-reason/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [My wife and I are like twins and that is a great and a terrible thing for a marriage. It makes for the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-duplass/my-wife-and-i-are-like-twins-and-that-is-a-great-and-a-terrible-thing/) [Mark Duplass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-duplass/) > [“The real drawback to marriage is that it makes one unselfish. And unselfish people are colourless. They lack individuality. Still, there are certain temperaments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-real-drawback-to-marriage-is-that-it-makes-one-unselfish-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The worst of marriage is that it makes a woman believe that all men are just as easy to fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/the-worst-of-marriage-is-that-it-makes-a-woman-believe-that-all-men/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) ## 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 Charm quotes > [Charm is a cunning self-forgetfulness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-stead/charm-is-a-cunning-self-forgetfulness/) [Christina Stead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-stead/) > [Every woman thinks herself attractive; even the plainest is satisfied with the charms she deems that she possesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/every-woman-thinks-herself-attractive-even-the-plainest-is-satisfied/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Modesty is the gentle art of enhancing your charm by pretending not to be aware of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-herford/modesty-is-the-gentle-art-of-enhancing-your-charm-by-pretending-not/) [Oliver Herford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-herford/) > [Talk health. The dreary, never-changing tale Of mortal maladies is worn and stale. You cannot charm, or interest, or please By harping in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/talk-health-the-dreary-never-changing-tale-of-mortal-maladies-is-worn/) [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) > [I'm an old school guy and love the guys in the monster suits and JAWS; even though everyone makes fun of the shark I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-fessenden/i-m-an-old-school-guy-and-love-the-guys-in-the-monster-suits-and-jaws/) [Larry Fessenden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-fessenden/) > [Every woman has the instinct, the propensity to profit from her charms, and there's a lot to be said for giving oneself without love,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leopold-von-sacher-masoch/every-woman-has-the-instinct-the-propensity-to-profit-from-her-charms/) [Leopold von Sacher-Masoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leopold-von-sacher-masoch/) > [I don't know that I'm a free spirit or anything like that. I just have my own way of doing things. That's the charm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-schultz/i-don-t-know-that-i-m-a-free-spirit-or-anything-like-that-i-just-have/) [Dave Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-schultz/) > [In each studio there is a human being dressed in the full regalia of his myth fearing to expore a vulnerable opening, spreading not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/in-each-studio-there-is-a-human-being-dressed-in-the-full-regalia-of/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [“It's a part of life. You never know what you are going to get; you just have to be strong enough to deal with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-hill/it-s-a-part-of-life-you-never-know-what-you-are-going-to-get-you-just/) [Melissa Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-hill/) > [Even after marrying Mallika, I feel that I am her boyfriend. In fact, I believe this feeling enhances the charm and fun of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zayed-khan/even-after-marrying-mallika-i-feel-that-i-am-her-boyfriend-in-fact-i/) [Zayed Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zayed-khan/) > [Criticism even should not be without its charms. When quite devoid of all amenities, it is no longer literary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-joubert/criticism-even-should-not-be-without-its-charms-when-quite-devoid-of/) [Joseph Joubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-joubert/) > [“Never trust charm, it's the most powerful weapon in the devil's armory.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-gilbert/never-trust-charm-it-s-the-most-powerful-weapon-in-the-devil-s-armory/) Anthony Gilbert > [Paul Taylor's 'Offenbach Overtures' has lots of zip and charm, and its pair of dueling soldiers in red, who end up starry-eyed about each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-gottlieb/paul-taylor-s-offenbach-overtures-has-lots-of-zip-and-charm-and-its/) [Robert Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-gottlieb/) > [Time's stern tide, with cold Oblivion's wave, Shall soon dissolve each fair, each fading charm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-seward/time-s-stern-tide-with-cold-oblivion-s-wave-shall-soon-dissolve-each/) [Anna Seward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-seward/) > [Washington is a city of Southern efficiency and Northern charm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/washington-is-a-city-of-southern-efficiency-and-northern-charm/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) [Browse all 1,415 Charm quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charm/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The one charm about marriage is that it makes a life of deception absolutely necessary for both parties.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Oscar Wilde" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-one-charm-about-marriage-is-that-it-makes-a-life-of-deception/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Charm" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-one-charm-about-marriage-is-that-it-makes-a-life-of-deception/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/281/oscar-wilde-16_charm_the-one-charm-about-marriage-is-that-it_1284432.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/281/oscar-wilde-16_charm_the-one-charm-about-marriage-is-that-it_1284432.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/281/oscar-wilde-16_charm_the-one-charm-about-marriage-is-that-it_1284432.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The one charm about marriage is that it makes a life of deception absolutely necessary for both parties.” — Oscar Wilde", "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": "Oscar Wilde", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The one charm about marriage is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-one-charm-about-marriage-is-that-it-makes-a-life-of-deception/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-one-charm-about-marriage-is-that-it-makes-a-life-of-deception/#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 } } ] } ```