Faith Quote by Wendell Berry
““The forsaking of all others is a keeping of faith, not just with the chosen one, but with the ones forsaken. The marriage vow unites not just a woman and a man with each other; it unites each of them with the community in a vow of sexual responsibility toward all others. The whole community is married, realizes its essential unity, in each of its marriages... Marital fidelity, that is, involves the public or institutional as well as the private aspect of marriage. One is married to marriage as well as to one's spouse. But one is married also to something vital of one's own that does not exist before the marriage: one's given word. It now seems to me that the modern misunderstanding of marriage involves a gross misunderstanding and underestimation of the seriousness of giving one's word, and of the dangers of breaking it once it is given. Adultery and divorce now must be looked upon as instances of that disease of word-breaking, which our age justifies as "realistic" or "practical" or "necessary," but which is tattering the invariably single fabric of speech and trust. (pg.117, "The Body and the Earth")””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Body and the Earth by Wendell Berry, 1995
Marriage is a public promise that binds individuals to each other and to the community, making fidelity a collective responsibility and a test of one’s word.
In simple terms: Marriage is a communal promise that requires keeping one’s word.
Key Takeaway
Treat marriage as a shared vow, not just a private contract.
Themes
commitment
community
trust
responsibility
fidelity
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- wedding ceremonies
- counseling sessions
- community gatherings
- marital conflict resolution
- public policy on marriage
Key Concepts
social contract
ethical responsibility
word integrity
Questions to Reflect On
- How does viewing marriage as a community bond change your responsibilities?
- What risks arise when personal vows are treated as private only?
A Different Perspective
Modern views may downplay the communal aspect, reducing marriage to personal preference.
![“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)
