My marriage was consummated in the harshest possible manner. The Borgias s1e9: Nobody, Lucrezia to Cesare
A demonstration here before our brother Cardinals would suffice. ibid. Rodrigo to Sforza
We declare the marriage between the Lady Lucrezia Borgia and the Lord Giovanni Sforza to be invalid, as if it never existed. ibid.
I will not marry. The Borgias s2e6: Day of Ashes, Cesare’s confession, daughter to father
Medieval marriages were entirely about property. Kenneth Clark: Civilisation 3/13: Romance & Reality, BBC 1969
Two Aerials meet on a roof – fall in love – get married. The ceremony was rubbish but the reception was brilliant. Tommy Cooper
Well, my wife and I were married in a toilet – it was a marriage of convenience! Tommy Cooper
How many frivolous quarrels and disgusts are there, which people of common prudence endeavour to forget, when they lie under the necessity of passing their lives together; but which would soon inflame into the most deadly hatred, were they pursued to the utmost, under the prospect of an easy separation? David Hume, Essays: Moral and Political 1741-2
As to marriage or celibacy let a man take which course he will – he will be sure to repent. Socrates
By all means marry. If you get a good wife, you’ll be happy. If you get a bad one, you’ll become a philosopher. Socrates
I was called up to marriage like military service. Rumpole of the Bailey s1e2: Rumpole and the Alternative Society, ITV 1975
Marigold Guthrie: He’s never there.
Rumpole: Ah well that can be an advantage in married life. Rumpole of the Bailey s2e2: Rumpole and the Case of Identity
What’s marriage? Lawful carnal knowledge. Rumpole of the Bailey s2e5: Rumpole and the Course of True Love
Hilda: We need a second honeymoon.
Rumpole: The first one was bad enough. Rumpole of the Bailey s6e4: Rumpole at Sea
How marriage ruins a man! It is as demoralizing as cigarettes, and far more expensive. Oscar Wilde
There is nothing so difficult to marry as a large nose. Oscar Wilde
The one charm of marriage is that it makes a life of deception absolutely necessary for both parties. Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Casti Connubii, 31 December 1930. Vatican’s policy on contraception & abortion & marriage
Marriage brings one into fatal connection with custom and tradition, and traditions and customs are like the wind and weather, altogether incalculable. Soren Kierkegaard
She’s not well married that lives married long,
But she’s best married that dies married young. William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet IV iv 104-105, Friar Laurence
Two lovely berries moulded on one stem;
So, with two seeming bodies, but one heart. William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night’s Dream III ii 211
Marriage is a matter of more worth
Than to be dealt in by attorneyship ...
For what is wedlock forced but a hell,
And age of discord and continual strife. William Shakespeare, The First Part of Henry the Sixth V vii 55&56&62&63
Not till God make men of some other mettle than earth. Would it not grieve a woman to be overmastered with a piece of valiant dust? – to make an account of her life to a clod of wayward marl? No, uncle, I’ll none. Adam’s sons are my brethren, and truly I hold it a sin to match in my kindred. William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing I iii 54-56, Beatrice to Leonato et al
We will have no more marriages. William Shakespeare, Hamlet III i 146-147, Hamlet to Ophelia
Many a good hanging prevents a bad marriage. William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night I v 18, Feste
A contract of eternal bond of love,
Confirmed by the mutual joinder of your hands,
Attested by the hold close of lips,
Strengthened by interchangement of your rings,
And all the ceremony of this compact
Sealed in my function, by my testimony. ibid. V I @145
O curse of marriage,
That we can call these delicate creatures ours
And not their appetites! William Shakespeare, Othello III iii 272-274, Othello
A young man married is a man that’s married. William Shakespeare, All’s Well That End’s Well II iii 315
There were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded. Diana, interview Panorama 20th November 1995
We stand for institutions like marriage and family which are the foundations of our society. George W Bush
He knocked her about a bit but her home were lovely. The Royle Family s1e3: Sunday Afternoon, Nana, BBC 1998
I were unhappy for twenty-five years but at least I had a try. ibid. Nana
The generation that we’re concerned with – George III and his brothers – they made secret marriage into a sort of art form. George IV was a bigamist. Byron Rogers, author
Men who have a pierced ear are better prepared for marriage – they’ve experienced pain and bought jewellery. Rita Rudner
I love being married. It’s so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life. Rita Rudner
Marriage is an holy and inviolable bond; if the choice on both sides by good and well-ordered, there is nothing in the World that is more beautiful, more comfortable. It is a sweet Society, full of trust and loyalty ... The wife ought to be subject to the husband in all things. Hannah Woolley
So for the most part Maids and Wives desire
Husbands and Children upon any condition
But I am not of their Minds: for I think that
A Bad Husband is far Worse
Than no Husband. Margaret Cavendish
You know, I’ve been married to my wife for forty-four years, and never once have seen her body uncovered. Mark E Paterson, Mormon apostle, Seattle East Stake Conference 25th May 1975
Thou tyrant whom I will not name,
Whom heaven and hell alike disclaim;
Abhorred and shunned, for different ends,
By angels, Jesuits, beasts and fiends!
What terms to curse thee shall I find,
Thou plague peculiar to mankind? ...
That wretch, if such a wretch there be,
Who hopes for happiness from thee,
May search successfully as well
For truth in whores and ease in hell. Mehetabel Wright, Wedlock c.1730
I’m getting married in the morning,
Ding! Dong! the bells are gonna chime.
Pull out the stopper;
Let’s have a whopper;
But get me to the church on time! Alan Jay Lerner, song 1956
How happy a thing were a wedding,
And a bedding,
If a man might purchase a wife
For a twelvemonth and a day;
But to live with her all a man’s life,
For ever and for aye,
Till she grow as grey as a cat,
Good faith, Mr Parson, I thank you for that! Thomas Flatman, 1637-1688, On Marriage