---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People stay married because they want to…"
description: "\"People stay married because they want to, not because the doors are locked.\" — Paul Newman"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57c/paul-newman-2526_doors_people-stay-married-because-they-want-to_272037.png"
---

#  People stay married because they want to, not because the…

![“People stay married because they want to, not because the doors are locked.” quote by Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57c/paul-newman-2526_doors_people-stay-married-because-they-want-to_272037.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57c/paul-newman-2526_doors_people-stay-married-because-they-want-to_272037.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57c/paul-newman-2526_doors_people-stay-married-because-they-want-to_272037.png)

> “People stay married because they want to, not because the doors are locked.”

[Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/)

## About This Quote

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

People stay married when they choose love, not out of fear or lack of options.

**In simple terms:** Marriages last by choice, not necessity.

Key Takeaway

Choose love, not fear.

Themes

marriage choice commitment

Mood

reflective thoughtful

Type

advice relationship

When to use this quote

- relationship counseling
- marriage vows
- personal growth
- conflict resolution

Key Concepts

relationship dynamics personal agency

Questions to Reflect On

- Do you stay for love or convenience?
- What fears keep you in a relationship?

A Different Perspective

If external pressures dominate, love may fade.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Doors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doors/) [Doors Locked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doors-locked-501712/) [Locked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/locked/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Married](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/married/) [Married Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/married-want-683935/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Stay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-stay/) [Stay Married](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stay-married/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/)

## Related quotes

> [I'm so happy for anyone who chooses to get married! I want more people to join the club.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/busy-philipps/i-m-so-happy-for-anyone-who-chooses-to-get-married-i-want-more-people/)

[Busy Philipps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/busy-philipps/)

> [We just need the laws to change - it's 2012," JWoww said to MTV News. "I want to see my best friend get married,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jwoww/we-just-need-the-laws-to-change-it-s-2012-jwoww-said-to-mtv-news-i/)

[JWoww](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jwoww/)

> [When I'm married I want to be single, and when I'm single I want to be married.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-grant/when-i-m-married-i-want-to-be-single-and-when-i-m-single-i-want-to-be/)

[Cary Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-grant/)

> [It's tough to stay married. My wife kisses the dog on the lips, yet she won't drink from my glass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-dangerfield/it-s-tough-to-stay-married-my-wife-kisses-the-dog-on-the-lips-yet-she/)

[Rodney Dangerfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-dangerfield/)

> [I'm very old-fashioned. I believe that people should stay married for life, like pigeons and Catholics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/i-m-very-old-fashioned-i-believe-that-people-should-stay-married-for/)

[Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/)

> [Even when people don't stay married, they can still be a family together. That's been something that's been really good for developing me as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-guilfoyle/even-when-people-don-t-stay-married-they-can-still-be-a-family/)

[Kimberly Guilfoyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-guilfoyle/)

> [Sometimes we feel that all doors are closed in our life. But all closed doors may not be locked. They may be waiting for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anas/sometimes-we-feel-that-all-doors-are-closed-in-our-life-but-all/)

[Anas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anas/)

> [Sometimes we feel all doors are closed in our life. But, all closed doors may not be locked! They may be waiting for our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-we-feel-all-doors-are-closed-in-our-life-but-all-closed/)

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

> [He put on his hat and wrapped his scarf around his jaw, but did without the wig and the sunglasses. He clicked his key…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/he-put-on-his-hat-and-wrapped-his-scarf-around-his-jaw-but-did/)

[Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/)

> [“Who buffs the floors? Who picks up the bulletins as you leave them in a mess here on a Sunday evening? Who makes sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/who-buffs-the-floors-who-picks-up-the-bulletins-as-you-leave-them-in/)

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

> [“You cannot!' Tatiana said sharply. 'If you order a gun there is only a single shot, and once delivered the doors are locked and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-d-ronald/you-cannot-tatiana-said-sharply-if-you-order-a-gun-there-is-only-a/)

[R.D. Ronald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-d-ronald/)

> [“Would he ever, he wondered, escape from people who banged on the doors he locked to demand his egress?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-trevor/would-he-ever-he-wondered-escape-from-people-who-banged-on-the-doors/)

[William Trevor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-trevor/)

> [Sometimes we feel all doors are closed in our life. But all the closed doors may not be locked. They may be waiting for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldyna-threesya/sometimes-we-feel-all-doors-are-closed-in-our-life-but-all-the-closed-2/)

[Aldyna Threesya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldyna-threesya/)

> [“For all the doors locked, love is the best locksmith!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/for-all-the-doors-locked-love-is-the-best-locksmith/)

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [Kaylee do you know why you are here?" "Yeah. Because the doors are locked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-vincent/kaylee-do-you-know-why-you-are-here-yeah-because-the-doors-are-locked/)

[Rachel Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-vincent/)

## More by Paul Newman

> [George Roy Hill, Redford, and I have been looking for a script to do together for 13 years. We haven't been able to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/george-roy-hill-redford-and-i-have-been-looking-for-a-script-to-do/)

[Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/)

> [An actor has to evaluate his own abilities and be honest with himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/an-actor-has-to-evaluate-his-own-abilities-and-be-honest-with-himself/)

[Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/)

> [When the idea came up, (Newman's Own) I said, "Are you crazy? Stick my face on the label of salad dressing?" And then, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/when-the-idea-came-up-newman-s-own-i-said-are-you-crazy-stick-my-face/)

[Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/)

> [When you see the right thing to do, you'd better do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/when-you-see-the-right-thing-to-do-you-d-better-do-it/)

[Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/)

> [In racing, the fastest person wins. It is very simple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/in-racing-the-fastest-person-wins-it-is-very-simple/)

[Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/)

> [I never ask my wife about my flaws. Instead I try to get her to ignore them and concentrate on my sense of humor.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/i-never-ask-my-wife-about-my-flaws-instead-i-try-to-get-her-to-ignore/)

[Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/)

> [I would like it if people would think that beyond Newman, there's a spirit that takes action, a heart, and a talent that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/i-would-like-it-if-people-would-think-that-beyond-newman-there-s-a/)

[Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/)

> [What we got here is a failure to communicate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/what-we-got-here-is-a-failure-to-communicate/)

[Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/)

> [Newman's first law: It is useless to put on your brakes when you're upside down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/newman-s-first-law-it-is-useless-to-put-on-your-brakes-when-you-re/)

[Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/)

> [A feud should live a full and colorful life, and then it should die a natural death and be forgotten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/a-feud-should-live-a-full-and-colorful-life-and-then-it-should-die-a/)

[Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/)

> [People like to do what they used to do after they've stopped being able to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/people-like-to-do-what-they-used-to-do-after-they-ve-stopped-being/)

[Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/)

> [We've polluted the stratosphere with these chlorine and bromine compounds, and because it's now colder, and because we have this change in the climate,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/we-ve-polluted-the-stratosphere-with-these-chlorine-and-bromine/)

[Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/)

> [I am convinced that a person is entitled to as much privacy as he wants. It should be his privilege to keep certain areas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/i-am-convinced-that-a-person-is-entitled-to-as-much-privacy-as-he/)

[Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/)

> [For some players, luck itself is an art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/for-some-players-luck-itself-is-an-art/)

[Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/)

> [I can eat fifty eggs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/i-can-eat-fifty-eggs/)

[Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/)

[Explore all 162 Paul Newman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/)

## More Doors quotes

> [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/)

[Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/)

> [When you have counted eighty years and more, Time and Fate will batter at your door; But if you should survive to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khushwant-singh/when-you-have-counted-eighty-years-and-more-time-and-fate-will-batter/)

[Khushwant Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khushwant-singh/)

> [“The universe contains any amount of horrible ways to be woken up, such as the noise of the mob breaking down the front door,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-universe-contains-any-amount-of-horrible-ways-to-be-woken-up-such/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [We can't love a place or a person if we always have one foot out the door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-weiner/we-can-t-love-a-place-or-a-person-if-we-always-have-one-foot-out-the/)

[Eric Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-weiner/)

> [Kindness unlocks doors that were thought to be closed forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unkown/kindness-unlocks-doors-that-were-thought-to-be-closed-forever/)

[Unkown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/unkown/)

> [I haven't shut any doors, and I'm really open to anything, so I think it's just about the material and what is going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-panabaker/i-haven-t-shut-any-doors-and-i-m-really-open-to-anything-so-i-think/)

[Danielle Panabaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-panabaker/)

> [There are times when we can feel destiny close around us like a fist around a doorknob. Sure, we can resist. But a knob…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/there-are-times-when-we-can-feel-destiny-close-around-us-like-a-fist/)

[Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/)

> [I won't be managing the Mets. I am closing the door on managing the Mets and probably everybody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-torre/i-won-t-be-managing-the-mets-i-am-closing-the-door-on-managing-the/)

[Joe Torre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-torre/)

> [The odor of bowel wind is known to every human, but the fragrance of book glue has crossed only a fraction of mortal nostrils.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-odor-of-bowel-wind-is-known-to-every-human-but-the-fragrance-of/)

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

> [I had always assumed that the right way to do it was to these engineers, put them in offices by themselves with doors that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-schmidt/i-had-always-assumed-that-the-right-way-to-do-it-was-to-these/)

[Eric Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-schmidt/)

> [A home isn't just a roof over our heads. A home is a place where we feel loved and where we love others. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/a-home-isn-t-just-a-roof-over-our-heads-a-home-is-a-place-where-we/)

[Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/)

> [I think that's the beauty of the current setup, is that Legends is meant to be a bit of a revolving door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wentworth-miller/i-think-that-s-the-beauty-of-the-current-setup-is-that-legends-is/)

[Wentworth Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wentworth-miller/)

> [In the beginning I was just a makeup artist and I never really pictured myself doing anything else. But now that I have so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffree-star/in-the-beginning-i-was-just-a-makeup-artist-and-i-never-really/)

[Jeffree Star](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffree-star/)

> [I do not chase after anyone if you wanna walk out my life then I will hold the fu\*\*\*\*g door open for you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wiz-khalifa/i-do-not-chase-after-anyone-if-you-wanna-walk-out-my-life-then-i-will/)

[Wiz Khalifa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wiz-khalifa/)

> [Do you know what it is sir? Do you know what the Dance Dance Revolution is? It's not an actual revolution, so you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-peters/do-you-know-what-it-is-sir-do-you-know-what-the-dance-dance/)

[Russell Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-peters/)

[Browse all 5,899 Doors quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doors/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "People stay married because they want to, not because the doors are locked.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Paul Newman"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/people-stay-married-because-they-want-to-not-because-the-doors-are/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Doors"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/people-stay-married-because-they-want-to-not-because-the-doors-are/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57c/paul-newman-2526_doors_people-stay-married-because-they-want-to_272037.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57c/paul-newman-2526_doors_people-stay-married-because-they-want-to_272037.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57c/paul-newman-2526_doors_people-stay-married-because-they-want-to_272037.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“People stay married because they want to, not because the doors are locked.” — Paul Newman",
                "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": "Paul Newman",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "People stay married because they want...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/people-stay-married-because-they-want-to-not-because-the-doors-are/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/people-stay-married-because-they-want-to-not-because-the-doors-are/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
