--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A man cannot possess anything that is…" description: "\"A man cannot possess anything that is better than a good wife, or anything that is worse than a bad one.\" — Simonides of Ceos" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/034/simonides-of-ceos-37482_good-wife_a-man-cannot-possess-anything-that-is-be_1135233.jpg" --- # A man cannot possess anything that is better than a good… ![“A man cannot possess anything that is better than a good wife, or anything that is worse than a bad one.” quote by Simonides of Ceos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/034/simonides-of-ceos-37482_good-wife_a-man-cannot-possess-anything-that-is-be_1135233.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/034/simonides-of-ceos-37482_good-wife_a-man-cannot-possess-anything-that-is-be_1135233.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/034/simonides-of-ceos-37482_good-wife_a-man-cannot-possess-anything-that-is-be_1135233.jpg) > “A man cannot possess anything that is better than a good wife, or anything that is worse than a bad one.” [Simonides of Ceos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simonides-of-ceos/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A good spouse is the highest possession; a bad one is the lowest. **In simple terms:** A good wife is valuable; a bad one is detrimental. Key Takeaway Choose wisely in partnership. Themes marriage value choice Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - courtship - marital counseling - relationship building Key Concepts virtue compatibility Questions to Reflect On - What defines a 'good' spouse? - How can one improve a bad marriage? A Different Perspective Oversimplifies complex relationships. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Good wife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-wife/) [Man Possess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-possess-1526872/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Possess Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possess-better-3138569/) [Wife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wife/) [Wife Worse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wife-worse-3138568/) ## Related quotes > [A wife's a worry, a non-wife's even worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/a-wife-s-a-worry-a-non-wife-s-even-worse/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [There is trouble with a wife, but it's even worse with a woman who is not a wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-trouble-with-a-wife-but-it-s-even-worse-with-a-woman-who-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I want to make my music and be a happy woman, a good wife, a good mom and one day hopefully have a child…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leann-rimes/i-want-to-make-my-music-and-be-a-happy-woman-a-good-wife-a-good-mom/) [LeAnn Rimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leann-rimes/) > [“The husband is the head of the wife just in so far as he is to her what Christ is to the Church -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/the-husband-is-the-head-of-the-wife-just-in-so-far-as-he-is-to-her/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [“The mind of a man possess is state of being.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-mind-of-a-man-possess-is-state-of-being/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“A man may possess the disposition without its producing any good result.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/a-man-may-possess-the-disposition-without-its-producing-any-good/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [If a man can possess a woman sexually -really possess- he won't need to control her ideas, her opinions, her clothes, her friends, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-bentley/if-a-man-can-possess-a-woman-sexually-really-possess-he-won-t-need-to/) [Toni Bentley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-bentley/) > [Spend your time designing the greatest reputation a man could possess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-murray/spend-your-time-designing-the-greatest-reputation-a-man-could-possess/) [Chris Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-murray/) > [“The mind of a man possess his state of being.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-mind-of-a-man-possess-his-state-of-being/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Man cannot possess anything as long as he fears death. But to him who does not fear it, everything belongs. If there was no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/man-cannot-possess-anything-as-long-as-he-fears-death-but-to-him-who/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [What evil is there in seeing a man possess a woman? Why, the beasts would be more free than we! It seems to me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-aretino/what-evil-is-there-in-seeing-a-man-possess-a-woman-why-the-beasts-2/) [Pietro Aretino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pietro-aretino/) > [Of earth's goods, the best is a good wife; a bad, the bitterest curse of human life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simonides-of-ceos/of-earth-s-goods-the-best-is-a-good-wife-a-bad-the-bitterest-curse-of/) [Simonides of Ceos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simonides-of-ceos/) > [He knows my limitations and where I'm a good wife and a good mom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-jolie/he-knows-my-limitations-and-where-i-m-a-good-wife-and-a-good-mom/) [Angelina Jolie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-jolie/) > [It's so weird for me to be watching The Good Wife while I'm still shooting The Good Wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cush-jumbo/it-s-so-weird-for-me-to-be-watching-the-good-wife-while-i-m-still/) [Cush Jumbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cush-jumbo/) > [I think most of us are raised with preconceived notions of the choices we're supposed to make. We waste so much time making decisions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bullock/i-think-most-of-us-are-raised-with-preconceived-notions-of-the/) [Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/) ## More by Simonides of Ceos > [There's no joy even in beautiful Wisdom, unless one have holy Health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simonides-of-ceos/there-s-no-joy-even-in-beautiful-wisdom-unless-one-have-holy-health/) [Simonides of Ceos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simonides-of-ceos/) > [There is no better test of a man's work than time, which also reveals the thoughts which lay hidden in his breast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simonides-of-ceos/there-is-no-better-test-of-a-man-s-work-than-time-which-also-reveals/) [Simonides of Ceos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simonides-of-ceos/) > [A man gains no possession better than a good woman, nothing more horrible than a bad one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simonides-of-ceos/a-man-gains-no-possession-better-than-a-good-woman-nothing-more/) [Simonides of Ceos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simonides-of-ceos/) > [Man's strength is but little, and futile his concerns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simonides-of-ceos/man-s-strength-is-but-little-and-futile-his-concerns/) [Simonides of Ceos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simonides-of-ceos/) > [The gods do not fight against necessity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simonides-of-ceos/the-gods-do-not-fight-against-necessity/) [Simonides of Ceos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simonides-of-ceos/) > [We did not flinch but gave our lives to save Greece when her fate hung on a razor's edge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simonides-of-ceos/we-did-not-flinch-but-gave-our-lives-to-save-greece-when-her-fate/) [Simonides of Ceos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simonides-of-ceos/) > [It is hard to be truly excellent, four-square in hand and foot and mind, formed without blemish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simonides-of-ceos/it-is-hard-to-be-truly-excellent-four-square-in-hand-and-foot-and/) [Simonides of Ceos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simonides-of-ceos/) > [Difficult, say you? Difficult to be a man of virtue, truly good, shaped and fashioned without flaw in the perfect figure of four-squared excellence,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simonides-of-ceos/difficult-say-you-difficult-to-be-a-man-of-virtue-truly-good-shaped/) [Simonides of Ceos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simonides-of-ceos/) > [Of earth's goods, the best is a good wife; a bad, the bitterest curse of human life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simonides-of-ceos/of-earth-s-goods-the-best-is-a-good-wife-a-bad-the-bitterest-curse-of/) [Simonides of Ceos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simonides-of-ceos/) > [What is life without the joy of Love?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simonides-of-ceos/what-is-life-without-the-joy-of-love/) [Simonides of Ceos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simonides-of-ceos/) > [If to die honorably is the greatest Part of virtue, for us fate's done her best. Because we fought to crown Greece with freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simonides-of-ceos/if-to-die-honorably-is-the-greatest-part-of-virtue-for-us-fate-s-done/) [Simonides of Ceos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simonides-of-ceos/) [Explore all 12 Simonides of Ceos quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simonides-of-ceos/) ## More Good wife quotes > [I want to make my music and be a happy woman, a good wife, a good mom and one day hopefully have a child…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leann-rimes/i-want-to-make-my-music-and-be-a-happy-woman-a-good-wife-a-good-mom/) [LeAnn Rimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leann-rimes/) > [I think most of us are raised with preconceived notions of the choices we're supposed to make. We waste so much time making decisions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bullock/i-think-most-of-us-are-raised-with-preconceived-notions-of-the/) [Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/) > [By all means marry; if you get a good wife, you'll be happy. If you get a bad one, you'll become a philosopher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/by-all-means-marry-if-you-get-a-good-wife-you-ll-be-happy-if-you-get/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [“The husband is the head of the wife just in so far as he is to her what Christ is to the Church -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/the-husband-is-the-head-of-the-wife-just-in-so-far-as-he-is-to-her/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [“Women are inherently crooked? Certainly some Muslim clerics think so—or at least, they do not believe in legal equality for women. Bangladeshi Islamic cleric…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-spencer/women-are-inherently-crooked-certainly-some-muslim-clerics-think-so/) [Robert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-spencer/) > [“A good wife would have sorted him out and put him on the right road..." There comes that right road again. I wonder where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-stubbs/a-good-wife-would-have-sorted-him-out-and-put-him-on-the-right-road/) [Jean Stubbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-stubbs/) > [It's so weird for me to be watching The Good Wife while I'm still shooting The Good Wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cush-jumbo/it-s-so-weird-for-me-to-be-watching-the-good-wife-while-i-m-still/) [Cush Jumbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cush-jumbo/) > [He knows my limitations and where I'm a good wife and a good mom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-jolie/he-knows-my-limitations-and-where-i-m-a-good-wife-and-a-good-mom/) [Angelina Jolie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-jolie/) > [“A man finds good thing and favor when he finds a good wife. A woman lives in good fortune when she gets married to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anyaele-sam-chiyson/a-man-finds-good-thing-and-favor-when-he-finds-a-good-wife-a-woman/) [Anyaele Sam Chiyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anyaele-sam-chiyson/) > [We work the full year round to make 10 or 12 episodes, and 'The Good Wife' makes, like, 26 in that time or something,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-konner/we-work-the-full-year-round-to-make-10-or-12-episodes-and-the-good/) [Jennifer Konner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-konner/) > [I am a good wife, so I think we need to live where my husband is working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristine-opolais/i-am-a-good-wife-so-i-think-we-need-to-live-where-my-husband-is/) [Kristine Opolais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristine-opolais/) > [It is strange,' pursued he, 'that while I love Rosomond Oliver so wildly-with all the intensity, indeed, of a first passion, the object of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/it-is-strange-pursued-he-that-while-i-love-rosomond-oliver-so-wildly/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [By all means marry. If you get a good wife, you will be happy. If you get a bad one, youll become a philosopher¦and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/by-all-means-marry-if-you-get-a-good-wife-you-will-be-happy-if-you/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [My season 2 'Good Wife' wrap gift was this deluxe package of Mortal Kombat. I played it for, like, two weeks straight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-czuchry/my-season-2-good-wife-wrap-gift-was-this-deluxe-package-of-mortal/) [Matt Czuchry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-czuchry/) > [A girl who bonnets a policeman with an ashcan full of bottles is obviously good wife-and-mother timber.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-girl-who-bonnets-a-policeman-with-an-ashcan-full-of-bottles-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 198 Good wife quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-wife/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A man cannot possess anything that is better than a good wife, or anything that is worse than a bad one.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Simonides of Ceos" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simonides-of-ceos/a-man-cannot-possess-anything-that-is-better-than-a-good-wife-or/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Good wife" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simonides-of-ceos/a-man-cannot-possess-anything-that-is-better-than-a-good-wife-or/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/034/simonides-of-ceos-37482_good-wife_a-man-cannot-possess-anything-that-is-be_1135233.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/034/simonides-of-ceos-37482_good-wife_a-man-cannot-possess-anything-that-is-be_1135233.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/034/simonides-of-ceos-37482_good-wife_a-man-cannot-possess-anything-that-is-be_1135233.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A man cannot possess anything that is better than a good wife, or anything that is worse than a bad one.” — Simonides of Ceos", "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": "Simonides of Ceos", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simonides-of-ceos/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A man cannot possess anything that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simonides-of-ceos/a-man-cannot-possess-anything-that-is-better-than-a-good-wife-or/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simonides-of-ceos/a-man-cannot-possess-anything-that-is-better-than-a-good-wife-or/#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 } } ] } ```