Behalf Quote by Wendell Berry
“If they had only themselves to consider, lovers would not need to marry, but they must think of others and of other things. They say their vows to the community as much as to one another, and the community gathers around them to hear and to wish them well, on their behalf and its own. It gathers around them because it understands how necessary, how joyful, and how fearful this joining is. These lovers, pledging themselves to one another "until death," are giving themselves away, and they are joined by this as no law or contract could join them.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Unsettling of America, Wendell Berry, 1977
Love involves personal desire and communal responsibility; marriage is a public commitment that binds individuals to each other and society.
In simple terms: Marriage is both personal and communal.
Key Takeaway
Honor both personal love and community bonds.
Themes
love
commitment
community
responsibility
ritual
Mood
reflective
hopeful
serene
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- wedding ceremonies
- family gatherings
- community support groups
- council meetings
Key Concepts
social contract
shared destiny
collective joy
Questions to Reflect On
- How does community shape your view of love?
- What responsibilities arise from public vows?
A Different Perspective
Community expectations can limit personal freedom.
![“Marriage [is] not just a bond between two people but a bond between those two people and their forebears, their children, and their neighbors... Lovers must not . . . live for themselves alone. . . . They say their vows to the community as much as to one another, and the community gathers around…” quote by Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7b3/wendell-berry-236_children_marriage-is-not-just-a-bond-between-two_2572658.jpg)
![“[Hazel] hissed in frustration. 'I hate eidolons. I thought Piper made them promise to stay away.' 'Oh...' Frank said, like he'd just had his own daily happy thought. 'Piper made them promise to stay off the ship and not possess any of us. But if they followed us, and used other bodies to attack…” quote by Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/8da/rick-riordan-27_body_hazel-hissed-in-frustration-i-hate-eidol_24349.jpg)
![“I couldn't ever act or think on behalf of what my father [[Albert Camus]] would have said or done. He's an artist, he considers himself an artist, and so he takes on the responsibility of speaking for those who are not given the means or the opportunity.” quote by Catherine Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/872/catherine-camus-12238_art_i-couldn-t-ever-act-or-think-on-behalf-o_48718.jpg)
