Skip to content
quotesby

The curse which lies upon marriage is that too often the individuals are joined in their weakness rather than in their strength, each asking from the other instead of finding pleasure in giving. It is even more deceptive to dream of gaining through the child a plenitude, a warmth, a value, which one is unable to create for oneself; the child brings joy only to the woman who is capable of disinterestedly desiring the happiness of another, to one who without being wrapped up in self seeks to transcend her own existence.

Simone De Beauvoir#55

LoveRelationshipsFamilyFulfillmentMarriageRelationship

About this quote

What does it mean?
Marriage often joins people in weakness rather than strength; true fulfillment comes from disinterestedly desiring another's happiness.
In plain terms
Marriage works when both give rather than ask; children should not be used for personal fulfillment.
What can you take from it?
Build relationships on giving strength rather than seeking fulfillment from others.

Where it applies

  • romantic relationships
  • parenting
  • family dynamics

Putting it to work

  • practice selfless love
  • evaluate relationship needs

Questions to consider

  • What do you seek in relationships?
  • How do you give versus ask?

Another view

Mutual support sometimes requires asking for help during weakness.

More from Simone De Beauvoir

  1. To 'catch' a husband is an art; to 'hold' him is a job.

    Permalink to quote #54
  2. All oppression creates a state of war. And this is no exception. The existent who is regarded as inessential cannot fail to demand the re-establishment of her …

    Permalink to quote #56
  3. Sex pleasure in woman, as I have said, is a kind of magic spell; it demands complete abandon; if words or movements oppose the magic of caresses, the spell is …

    Permalink to quote #53

Related quotes

  1. Our relationship is very special. We were very much in love and still are. Thank God we found each other. When I say my life began with Ronnie, well, it's true…

    Nancy ReaganNancy Reagan quote #1
  2. I would say that the surest measure of a man's or a woman's maturity is the harmony, style, joy, and dignity he creates in his marriage, and the pleasure and i…

    Benjamin SpockBenjamin Spock quote #4
  3. First of all, you have to marry the right person. If you marry the wrong person for the wrong reasons, then no matter how hard you work, it's never going to wo…

    Anne BancroftAnne Bancroft quote #5