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“How excellent is the saying of one of old: ‘He that adventureth upon matrimony is like unto one who thrusteth his hand into a sack containing many thousands of serpents and one eel. Yet, if Fate so decree, he may draw forth the eel.’”

— F. Anstey The Brass Bottle (1900)

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Marriage

More quotes by F. Anstey

I can’t call myself a busy man—unfortunately,” said Horace, with that frankness which scorns to conceal what other people know perfectly well already.

The Brass Bottle (1900)

The knowledge that one has a remedy within reach is often as effectual as the remedy itself, if not more so.

Tourmalin's Time Cheques (1885)

No doubt they would tolerate him now for the Professor’s sake; but who would not rather be ignored than tolerated?

The Brass Bottle (1900)

Models of manly beauty are rare out of novels, and seldom interesting in them.

The Brass Bottle (1900)

Drastic measures is Latin for a whopping.

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The confusion of marriage with morality has done more to destroy the conscience of the human race than any other single error.

George Bernard Shaw Man and Superman (1903)

Men marry because they are tired; women because they are curious. Both are disappointed.

Oscar Wilde A Woman of No Importance (1893)

A man is in general better pleased when he has a good dinner upon his table, than when his wife talks Greek.

Samuel Johnson

The best way to worship God is to love your wife.

Victor Hugo Les Misérables (1862)

Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: F. Anstey (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.