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English speaking countries | | Date: Centuries-old | Notes: Folk Sayings, Famous Quotes or Proverbs on Love and Marriage
A
o Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
o All are good lasses, but whence come the bad wives?
o All is fair in love and war. Or, All's fair in love and war. (Meaning: In the pursuit of love, rules are made to be broken.).
o Anyone who thinks the way to a man's heart is through his stomach is aiming ten inches too high.
B
o Beauty is only skin-deep.
o The best things in life are free.
o A big wife and a big barn will never do a man harm.
o Boys will be boys.
o Building relationships is like fermenting wine. You may crush the grapes with ample efforts and give them enough warmth at the inception. Yet the wine will age at its own leisurely pace.
C
o Charity begins at home.
D
o Discreet wives have neither eyes nor ears.
E
o Every Jack has his Jill (Meaning: There's someone for everyone somewhere.).
o Every Jack has his Jill; if only they can find each other.
F
o Faint of heart never won fair lady (Meaning: Cowards don't get pretty women. And/or those who don't have courage don't get ahead).
o Familiarity breads contempt (Meaning: The longer one lives with an individual, the easier it is to dislike him/her).
o Fear is stronger than love.
o The female of the species is more deadly than the male.
G
o Good men are hard to find.
o A good spouse and heealth is a person's best wealth.
o Goodness is better than beauty.
H
o Happy wife, happy life.
o Happy is the bride that the sun shines on.
o He that marries for money will earn it.
o He that marries for wealth sells his liberty.
o Heaven had no rage like love to hatred turned, nor Hell a fury like a woman scorned.
o Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned (which is merely a spark compared to the Sun as a measure of the power of God's wrath)
o Home is where the heart is.
o Husband and dog missing -- 25 cents reward for dog.
I
o If loving her would be a sin, I wish to sin for the rest of my life.
o If you hate storm and strife lead a bachelor's life.
o If you want praise, die. If you want blame, marry.
o Infatuations are aplenty. Love is rare.
o If you want to be criticized, marry.
o It is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.
o It is cheaper to keep her.
o It takes two to make a quarrel.
o It takes two to tango.
o If you love somebody, let them go, for if they return, they were always yours. And if they don't, they never were.
K
o Keep your eyes wide open before marriage, half shut afterwords.
L
o Love conquers all.
o Love does much, money does everything.
o Love is a bridge between two hearts.
o Love is an ideal thing, marriage the real thing.
o Love is blind.
o Love is not finding someone to live with, it's finding someone whom you can't live without.
o Love laughs at locksmiths.
o Love makes the world go round.
o Love sees no faults.
o Love will find a way.
o Lovers' quarrels are soon mended.
o Lucky in cards, unlucky in love.
M
o A man's home is his castle.
o A man who marries twice is a two-time loser.
o Many love triangles are really wreck-tangles.
o Marriage equals hell and bankruptcy.
o Marriages are made in heaven.
o Married people need a home of their own.
o Marry a handsome man and you marry trouble.
o Marry in haste, repent in haste.
o A mother-in-law is what you inherit when you marry.
N
o Never love with all your heart, it only ends in breaking.
o Never marry for money. You can borrow it cheaper.
O
o One hair of a woman draws more than a team of oxen.
o Out of sight... Out of mind.
P
o A poor beauty finds more lovers than husbands.
S
o She that is born a beauty is half married.
o A son is a son 'till he gets him a wife; a daughter's a daughter all her life. Or, A son is a son till he gets him a wife, but a daughter's a daughter the rest of your life.
T
o "There are three faithful friends: an old wife, an old dog and ready money." [Benjamin Franklin]
o There is but one good mother-in-law and she is dead.
o There's life in the old dog yet.
o There's no place like home.
o There's plenty more fish in the sea (Meaning: The sentence is often used to console women when they have been dumped.)
o They who love most are least valued.
o They who love too much who die for love.
o True love never grows old.
o Two things prolong your life: a quiet heart and a loving wife.
W
o The way to a man's heart is through his stomach.
o The way to a man's heart is through the ribcage.
o Whoredom and grace ne'er dwelt in one place.
o Where love fails we espy all faults.
o Where the woman wears the beeches, she has a good right to them.
o Where there is no trust there is no love.
o Wishes won't wash dishes.
o Witches and harlots come out at night.
o Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free (Like why marry when you can have sex without marriage or commitment)?
o A woman is like a cup of tea; you'll never know how strong she is until she boils.
o A woman's place is in the home.
o A woman's will is God's will (Meaning: that which a woman wishes, God wishes.)
o A woman's work is never done.
o Women are like different brews of Coffee. Each one of them has her own Aroma and her own way of tantalizing the taste buds. Yet neither is better or worst than either of them, but the one that stands out for you is only a matter of acquired taste.
Y
o You can bear with your own faults, and why not a fault in your wife?
o You cannot weld cake-dough to cast iron, nor a girl to an old man.
o You have to kiss a lot of toads before you find a handsome prince.
| Contributed by: Image Courtesy of The New York Public LIbrary, Digital Gallery # 099c776-001
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Spanish Speaking Countries | | Date: Centuries-old | Notes: Spanish Proverbs or Folk Sayings on Love and Marriage
B
o Bachelor, a peacock; betrothed, a lion; married, an ass.
o The bacon of paradise for the married man that does not repent.
o Before you marry, watch out, for it is a knot difficult to untie.
o Being friends with one's son-in-law feels as good as the winter sun.
o in English translation: Better to be alone, than to be in a bad marriage.
- Spanish original: Mas vale bien quedada que mal casada.
o Better joy in a cottage than sorrow in a palace.
o A blind man's wife needs no make-up.
o Both mules and women do what is expected of them.
C
o Choose a wife on a Saturday rather than a Sunday. Or, if you want a fine wife, don't pick her on a Sunday.
D
o The day you marry 'tis either kill or cure.
o Don't marry for money, you can borrow it cheaper.
E
o Every woman has something of a witch about her.
F
o The first wife is a broom, and the second a lady.
G
o in English translation: God makes them and they meet each other.
- Spanish original: Dios los cria y elos se juntan.
H
o A handsome man is not quite poor.
o The house does not rest upon the ground, but upon a woman.
o He that marries a widow will often have a dead man's head thrown into the dish.
o He who builds a house or marries is left with an empty purse.
o He who does not honor his wife, dishonors himself.
o He who has a bad wife can expect no happiness.
o He who has a good wife can bear any misfortune or wrong done to him.
o He who goes for from home to marry goes either to deceive or be deceived.
o in English translation: He/She who loves you a lot can make you cry.
- Spanish original: Quien bien te quiere, te hara llorar.
o in English translation: He/she who thinks he/she is the last COKE in the desert.
- Spanish original: Cree que es la ultima coca-cola en el desierio.
o He who marries does well, but he who marries not, better.
I
o in English translation (literally): If your wife wants to throw you off the roof, make sure the roof is as low as possible.
- Spanish original: Si tu mujer quiere tirarte de un tejado, procura que sea uno bajo, mayormente.
L
o Love is like war; begin when you lie and leave off when you can.
o Love, pain and money cannot be kept secret; they soon betray themselves.
M
o The man who does not love a horse cannot love a woman.
o A mistress in a high place is not a bad thing.
o in English translation: Marriage and shroud come from heaven.
- Spanish original: Matrimonio y mortaja del ciel bajan.
o in English translation: A mother-in-law would be bitter even if made of sugar.
o Spanish original: Suegra ni aun de azucar es buena.
o in English translation: Much as I like you, puppy, but not enough to give you bread.
- Meaning: You're not that attractive and I'm not that desperate.
- Spanish original: Tanto te quiero perrito, pero pa' pan muy poquito.
N
o Never advise anyone to go to war or to marry.
o in English translation: No one should stick his hands between married couples or brothers.
- Meaning: No one should try to interfere in family matters.
- Spanish original: Entre casados y hermanos, ninguno meta las manos.
o No woman can make a wise man out of a fool, but every woman can change a wise man into a fool.
O
o The old wife, if she does not serve for a pot, serves for a cover.
o One wedding brings another.
o The only chaste woman is the one who has not been chased.
R
o Rather have a husband with one eye, than a son.
o A rose too often smelled loses its fragrance (Meaning: A "loose woman loses her charm).
o
o Smoke, a dripping roof, and a scolding wife, are enough to drive a man out of his life.
T
o Take hold lightly; let go lightly. This is one of the great secrets of felicity in love.
o Take in laundry before you take in partners.
o Talk as you go, husband, to the gallows.
o There is no answer for God out of my house, and What have you to do with my wife?
o in English translation (literally): They lived happily and ate partridge (and didn't give me any).
- English equivalent: And they lived happily ever after.
- Spanish original: Vivieron felices y comieron perdices (y a mi no me dieron).
o in English translation (literally): Two breasts pull more than two wagons.
- Meaning: The ability of women to get things in their favor due to their beauty and sexuality.
- Spanish original: Dos tetas tiran mas que dos carretas.
W
o The wedding feast is not made with mushrooms only.
o The well-dressed woman draws her husband away from another woman's door.
o What is whispered in your ear tell not to your husband.
o When our daughter is married sons-in-law are plenty.
o Where there is love there is pain.
o A widow with big breasts must be either married, buried or sent to a nunnery.
o The wife of a shoemaker and the horse of a blacksmith have the worse shoes.
o in English translation: A woman's place is in the home.
- Spanish original: La mujer honrada la pierna quebrada y en casa.
o in English translation (literally): A woman's pubic hair pulls more than a tractor.
- Meaning: The ability of women to get things in their favor due to their beauty and sexuality.
- Spanish original: Pelo de cuca jala mas que un tractor.
| Contributed by: Image courtesy of The New York Public Library, Digital Gallery #1519481
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French speaking countries | | Date: Centuries-old | Notes: French Proverbs or Folk Sayings on Love and Marriage
A
o in English translation: After the love, the repentance.
- French original:Apres l'amour, le repentir.
o in English translation: At night all cats are gray.
-Meaning: When the lights are out (i.e., in bed) women all look the same.
- French original: La nuit tous les chats sont gris.
B
o in English translation: Big Corvette, small willie.
- Meaning: A French-Canadian saying that pokes fun of men who drive big cars, suggesting they are compensating for having a short penis.
- French original: Grosse Corvette, petite quequette.
C
o The clever wife makes her husband an apron.
o Choose a wife with your ears, not your eyes.
D
o A deaf husand and a blind wife are always a happy couple.
E
o in English translation: Eat your fish while it is fresh, marry your daughter while she is young.
o French original: Mange ton poisson a present qu'il est frais, marie ta fille a present qu'elle est jeune.
F
o in English translation: Far from the eyes, far from the heart.
- Meaning: Out of sight, out of mind.
- French original: Loin des yeux, loin du coeur.
o Fortune is a woman; if you neglect her today do not expect to regain her tomorrow.
H
o [Sarcastic] Happy is the man who has a beautiful spouse close to an abbey.
o He that tells his wife everything must be newly married.
o He who has a wife is sure to have strife.
o He who marries for love is happy at night, and unhappy during the day.
o in English translation (literally) The heart that sighs does not have what it desires.
- French original: Coeur qui soupire n'a pas ce qu'il desire.
I
o in English translation (literally): It'S loving too much when one dies of it.
- Meaning: They love too much who die for love.
- French original: C'est trop aimer quand on en meurt.
L
o Life is never long enough for a coquette.
o in English translation (literally): Look for the woman.
- Meaning: A woman is probably at the heart of the quarrel.
- French original: Cherchez la femme.
o in English translation: Love and poverty do bad housework together.
- French original: L'amour et la pouvrer font ensemble mauvais manage.
o Love can be a violent emotion for some.
o Love does much, but money does all.
o Love is often the fruit of marriage.
o Love is the dawn of marriage and marriage is the sunset of love.
o Love makes the time pass. Time makes love pass.
o in English translation: Lucky in cards, unlucky in love.
- French original: Heureux au jeu, malheureux en amour.
M
o The man has neither sense nor reason who leaves a young wife at home.
o Marriage is a lottery.
o Marriages are written in heaven.
o Married today, married tomorrow.
N
o in English translation: Never coward shall have fair lady for a friend.
- Meaning: Faint heart never won fair lady.
- French original: Jamais couard n'aura belle amie.
O
o in English translation: One always returns to his first love.
o French original: On revient toujours a ses premieres amours.
o in English translation: One does not go to the mill with the beauty of one's wife.
- Meaning: One can't trade in a wife's beauty for food.
- French original: On ne va pas avec la beaute de sa femme au moulin.
o One should choose a wife with the ears, rather than with the eyes.
P
o The pleasure of love lasts but a moment. The pain of love lasts a lifetime.
o The prettiest girl in the world can only give what she has
S
o Smoke, floods and a troublesome wife are enough to drive a man out of his life.
T
o in English translation (literally). That which a woman wishes, God wishes.
- Meaning: A woman's will is God's will.
- French original: Ce que femme veut, Dieu le veut.
o in English translation (literally) There is more than one donkey at the fair called Martin.
- English equivalent: There's plenty more fish in the sea.
- French ORIGINAL: Il y a plus d'un ane a la foire qui s'appellent Martin or Tous les anes ne s'appellent pas Martin.
o in English translation: There is no Jenny who does not find her donkey.
- Meaning: every Jack has his Jill.
- French original: Il n'y a pas d'anesse que ne trouve son ane.
o There is no perfect marriage, for there are no perfect men.
o To eat and drink, and sleep together, is marriage, methinks.
o To make a happy couple, the husband must be deaf and the wife blind.
o To regain her tomorrow.
o Try to reason about love and you will lose your reason.
W
o When a man's friend marries, all is over between them.
o With an old husband's hide one buys a young one.
o in English translation (literally) A woman laughs when she can and weeps when she wants.
- French original: Femme rit quand elle peut et pleure quand elle veut.
o Where rosemary grows the wife wears the trousers.
o Where there's music there can be love.
o Who loves well, punishes well.
Y
o You can't marry a hen and a fox (Meaning: Different strokes for different folks).
| Contributed by: Image courtesy of The New York Public Library, Digital Gallery #835452
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German speaking countries | | Date: Centuries-old | Notes: German Proverbs or Folk Sayings on Love and Marriage
F
o For an old man to marry is like wanting to harvest in the wintertime.
o in English translation (literally): If you want to score, you have to know how to smile.
- Meaning: If you keep this bad mood, you'll never find a girlfriend.
- German original: Wer poppen will, mub lacheln konnen.
I
o in English translation: In the night all cats are gray.
- Meanings: Polite version: Used when explaining why you could not discern one thing from the other.
Impolite version: If it is late enough and I am drunk enough I don't care what my one-night-stand looks like.*
- German original: Bei nacht sind alle katzen grau.
L
o in English translation: Like and like love to join.
- English equivalent: Birds of a feather stick together.
- GERMAN original: Gleich und gleich gesellt sich gern.
O
O in English translation: Old love does not rust.
- English equivalent: Old flames never die.
- German original: Alte liebe roster nicht.
o in English translation (literally): On old pots you learn cooking (Meaning) Older women can teach you a lot in bed.
o An old man who takes a young wife invites Death to the wedding.
T
o Two souls, one thought. Two hearts, one beat.
Y
o A young wife is an old man's dispatch horse to the grave.
o A young woman with an old husband is a wife by day and a widow by night.
* Notes from Wikipedia | Contributed by: Image courtesy of The New York Public Library, Digital Gallery #835558
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Corsica | | Date: Centuries-old | Notes: Italian Proverb or Folk Saying on Marriage -- Corsica
o in Italian (Dialect): A chi nasce bella, nasce maritata.
o in English: Those who are born beautiful, are born married.
| Contributed by: Image courtesy of The Library of Congress #3b10916r
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The East | | Date: Centuries-old | Notes: Proverb or Folk Saying on Marriage
o Don't stay long when the husband is not at home.
| Contributed by: Image courtesy of the New York Library, Digital Gallery #1524799
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The East | | Date: Centuries-old | Notes: Eastern Proverb or Folk Saying on Marriage
o Look at the mother before becoming engaged to the daughter. | Contributed by: Image courtesty of The New York Public Library, Digital Gallery #1524817
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The East | | Date: Centuries-old | Notes: Proverb or Folk Saying on Marriage
o The house with two mistresses is unswept.
| Contributed by: Image courtesty of The New York Public Library, Digital Gallery #1524887
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