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About this quote

What does it mean?
Marriage requires mutual deception to maintain harmony, according to Wilde.
In plain terms
Marriage often involves necessary deceit.
What can you take from it?
Recognize and manage the facades in partnership.

Where it applies

  • wedding vows
  • couples therapy
  • daily household interactions

Putting it to work

  • communicate openly about expectations
  • avoid harmful lies

Questions to consider

  • Is deception ever justified in a marriage?
  • How can couples balance authenticity and harmony?

Another view

Many marriages thrive on honesty and transparency.

More from Oscar Wilde

  1. The commonest thing is delightful if one only hides it.

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  2. Every portrait that is painted with feeling is a portrait of the artist, not of the sitter. The sitter is merely the accident, the occasion. It is not he who i…

    Permalink to quote #62
  3. When I like people immensely, I never tell their names to any one. It is like surrendering a part of them.

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