No man knows what the wife of his bosom is—what a ministering angel she is, until he has gone with her through the fiery trials of this world.
—Washington Irving (1783–1859) American Essayist, Biographer, Historian
The good wife is none of our dainty dames, who love to appear in a variety of suits every day new; as if a gown, like a stratagem in war, were to be used but once. But our good wife sets up a sail according to the keel of her husband’s estate; and, if of high parentage, she doth not so remember what she was by birth, that she forgets what she is by match.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
Sole partner, and sole part of all my joys, dearer thyself than all.
—John Milton (1608–74) English Poet, Civil Servant, Scholar, Debater
There is nothing upon this earth that can be compared with the faithful attachment of a wife; no creature who, for the object of her love, is so indomitable, so persevering, so ready to suffer and die. Under the most depressing circumstances, woman’s weaknesses become a mighty power; her timidity becomes fearless courage; all her shrinking and sinking passes away; and her spirit acquires the firmness of marble—adamantine firmness—when circumstances drive her to put forth all her energy and the inspiration of her affections.
—Daniel Webster (1782–1852) American Statesman, Lawyer
My dear, my better half.
—Philip Sidney (1554–86) English Soldier Poet, Courtier
A man’s mother is his misfortune, but his wife is his fault.
—Walter Bagehot (1826–77) English Economist, Journalist
Why man, she is mine own; and I as rich in having such a jewel, as twenty seas if all their sands were pearl, the water nectar, and the rocks pure gold.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
O woman! when the good man of the house may return, when the heat and burden of the day is past, do not let him at such time, when he is weary with toil and jaded by discouragement, find upon his coming that the foot which should hasten to meet him is wandering at a distance, that the soft hand which should wipe the sweat from his brow is knocking at the door of other houses.
—Washington Irving (1783–1859) American Essayist, Biographer, Historian
The death of a man’s wife is like cutting down an ancient oak that has long shaded the family mansion. Henceforth the glare of the world, with its cares and vicissitudes, falls upon the widower’s heart, and there is nothing to break their force, or shield him from the full weight of misfortune. It is as if his right hand were withered; as if one wing of his angel was broken, and every movement that he made brought him to the ground. His eyes are dimmed and glassy, and when the film of death falls over him, he misses those accustomed tones which might have smoothed his passage to the grave.
—Alphonse de Lamartine (1790–1869) French Poet, Politician, Historian
Heaven will be no heaven to me if I do not meet my wife there.
—Andrew Jackson (1767–1845) American Head of State
All other goods by fortune’s hand are given: A wife is the peculiar gift of Heaven.
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English Poet
Nothing can be more touching than to behold a soft and tender female, who has been all weakness and dependence, and alive to every trivial roughness while treading the prosperous paths of life, suddenly rising in mental force to be the comforter and supporter of her husband under misfortune, and abiding with unshrinking firmness the bitterest blast of adversity.
—Washington Irving (1783–1859) American Essayist, Biographer, Historian
The wife when danger or dishonor lurks, safest and seemliest by her husband stays, who guards her, or with her the worst endures.
—John Milton (1608–74) English Poet, Civil Servant, Scholar, Debater
When a man opens the car door for his wife, it’s either a new car or a new wife.
—Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (1921–2021) Consort of Queen Elizabeth II
The dignity of woman consists in being unknown to the world.—Her glory is the esteem of her husband; her pleasure the happiness of her family.
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–78) Swiss-born French Philosopher
No man can live piously or die righteously without a wife.
—Jean Paul (1763–1825) German Novelist, Humorist
In the election of a wife, as in a project of war, to err but once is to be undone forever.
—Conyers Middleton (1683–1750) English Clergyman, Theologian
There is one name which I can never utter without a reverence due to the religion which binds earth to heaven—a name cheered, beautified, exalted and hallowed—and that is the name of wife.
—Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton (1803–73) British Novelist, Poet, Politician
When it shall please God to bring thee to man’s estate, use great providence and circumspection in choosing thy wife. For from thence will spring all thy future good or evil, and it is an action of life like unto a stratagem of war, wherein a man can err but once.
—Philip Sidney (1554–86) English Soldier Poet, Courtier
I chose my wife, as she did her wedding gown, for qualities that would wear well.
—Oliver Goldsmith (1730–74) Irish Novelist, Playwright, Poet
A man’s wife has more power over him than the state has.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
For a wife take the daughter of a good mother.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
A woman in a single state may be happy, or may be miserable, but most happy, and most miserable, these are epithets applicable only to the wife.
—Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772–1834) English Poet, Literary Critic, Philosopher
I know the sum of all that makes a man—a just man—happy, consists in the well choosing of his wife; and then well to discharge it, does require equality of years, of birth, of fortune.
—Philip Massinger (1583–1640) English Playwright
An ideal wife is any woman who has an ideal husband.
—Booth Tarkington (1869–1946) American Novelist, Dramatist
One should choose a wife with the ears, rather than with the eyes.
—French Proverb
No man succeeds without a good woman behind him. Wife or mother, if it is both, he is twice blessed indeed.
—Harold Macmillan (1894–1986) British Head of State
Be thou the rainbow to the storms of life: the evening beam that smiles the clouds away, and tints tomorrow with prophetic ray.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron) (1788–1824) English Romantic Poet
Hanging and wiving go by destiny.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
A good wife is heaven’s last, best gift to man,—his gem of many virtues, his casket of jewels; her voice is sweet music, her smiles his brightest day, her kiss the guardian of his innocence, her arms the pale of his safety, her industry his surest wealth, her economy his safest steward, her lips his faithful counsellors, her bosom the softest pillow of his cares.
—Jeremy Taylor
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