--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have attempted to live our marriage…" description: "\"“I have attempted to live our marriage according to rules. When Amanda tells me something, I file that away as a new rule to be followed. The problem i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a4/stephen-j-bedard-42660_marriage_i-have-attempted-to-live-our-marriage-ac_1724760.jpg" --- # I have attempted to live our marriage according to rules… ![“I have attempted to live our marriage according to rules. When Amanda tells me something, I file that away as a new rule to be followed. The problem is that her comments are not meant as rules but as expressions of how she is feeling at the moment. To me, it looked like the rules kept changing. To…” quote by Stephen J. Bedard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a4/stephen-j-bedard-42660_marriage_i-have-attempted-to-live-our-marriage-ac_1724760.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a4/stephen-j-bedard-42660_marriage_i-have-attempted-to-live-our-marriage-ac_1724760.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a4/stephen-j-bedard-42660_marriage_i-have-attempted-to-live-our-marriage-ac_1724760.jpg) > ““I have attempted to live our marriage according to rules. When Amanda tells me something, I file that away as a new rule to be followed. The problem is that her comments are not meant as rules but as expressions of how she is feeling at the moment. To me, it looked like the rules kept changing. To Amanda, relationships are not about rules. At first, I thought this was just a male-female thing, but after a while I was not so sure.               There”” [Stephen J. Bedard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-j-bedard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A partner misinterprets emotional expressions as rigid rules, causing frustration and miscommunication in the relationship. **In simple terms:** Misreading feelings as rules creates conflict. Key Takeaway Listen for feelings, not instructions. Themes communication relationships misunderstanding Mood conflicted reflective Type advice relationship When to use this quote - marriage counseling - daily conversations - conflict resolution Key Concepts emotional intelligence boundary setting Questions to Reflect On - How can you differentiate between a feeling and a directive? - What signals show a partner is expressing emotion versus setting a rule? A Different Perspective People may still feel judged even when intentions are clarified. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Amanda Relationships](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amanda-relationships-1372707/) [Amanda Tells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amanda-tells-1372708/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Meant Rules](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meant-rules-1372709/) [Relationships Rules](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relationships-rules-764915/) [Rules Amanda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rules-amanda-1372706/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [With the cure, relationships are all the same, and rules and expectations are defined. 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Bedard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-j-bedard/) ## More Marriage quotes > [Unmarried couples should get married - that's an excellent tax avoidance measure, if a bit drastic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-whiting/unmarried-couples-should-get-married-that-s-an-excellent-tax/) [John Whiting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-whiting/) > [I know for my wife and I, we always loved the idea of being young parents. It is an incredibly inspiring and challenging job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hanson/i-know-for-my-wife-and-i-we-always-loved-the-idea-of-being-young/) [Taylor Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hanson/) > [I cannot forbid a person to marry several wives, for it does not contradict Scripture. 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