--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In modern marriage, then, what was once a…" description: "\"“In modern marriage, then, what was once a difference of work became a division of work. And in this division the household was destroyed as a practica..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b02/wendell-berry-236_divorce_in-modern-marriage-then-what-was-once-a_1030216.jpg" --- # In modern marriage, then, what was once a difference of… ![“In modern marriage, then, what was once a difference of work became a division of work. And in this division the household was destroyed as a practical bond between husband and wife. It was no longer a condition, but only a place. It was no longer a circumstance that required, dignified, and…” quote by Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b02/wendell-berry-236_divorce_in-modern-marriage-then-what-was-once-a_1030216.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b02/wendell-berry-236_divorce_in-modern-marriage-then-what-was-once-a_1030216.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b02/wendell-berry-236_divorce_in-modern-marriage-then-what-was-once-a_1030216.jpg) > ““In modern marriage, then, what was once a difference of work became a division of work. And in this division the household was destroyed as a practical bond between husband and wife. It was no longer a condition, but only a place. It was no longer a circumstance that required, dignified, and rewarded the enactment of mutual dependence, but the site of mutual estrangement. Home became a place for the husband to go when he was not working or amusing himself. It was the place where the wife was held in servitude. A sexual difference is not a wound, or it need not be; a sexual division is. And it is important to recognize that this division — this destroyed household that now stands between the sexes — is a wound that is suffered inescapably by both men and women.”” [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Modern marriage has turned mutual partnership into a divided, estranged household, harming both genders. **In simple terms:** Marriage now separates partners, causing pain for both. Key Takeaway Seek mutual dependence and shared purpose in relationships. Themes marriage gender roles family dynamics dependence Mood reflective critical Type social philosophical When to use this quote - counseling - relationship workshops - community building - policy reform Key Concepts sociology feminism masculinity social critique Questions to Reflect On - What steps can restore partnership? - How does division affect personal identity? A Different Perspective Changing deep-rooted social expectations is challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Divorce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divorce/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Husband and wife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/husband-and-wife/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Men and women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-and-women/) [Modern marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modern-marriage/) ## Related quotes > [“In Hobbes’ state of nature, when a male individual conquers (contracts with) a female individual he becomes her sexual master and she becomes his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carole-pateman/in-hobbes-state-of-nature-when-a-male-individual-conquers-contracts/) [Carole Pateman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carole-pateman/) > [There is a difference between civil partnerships and marriage. 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