George Eliot

The happiest women, like the happiest nations, have no history.

Of a truth, Knowledge is power, but it is a power reined by scruple, having a conscience of what must be and what may be; whereas Ignorance is a blind giant who, let him but wax unbound, would make it a sport to seize the pillars that hold up the long-wrought fabric of human good, and turn all the places of joy as dark as a buried Babylon.

Perhaps his might be one of the natures where a wise estimate of consequences is fused in the fires of that passionate belief which determines the consequences it believes in.

Wear a smile and have friends; wear a scowl and have wrinkles. What do we live for if not to make the world less difficult for each other?

There is a great deal of unmapped country within us which would have to be taken into account in an explanation of our gusts and storms.

I tell you there isn’t a thing under the sun that needs to be done at all, but what a man can do better than a woman, unless it’s bearing children, and they do that in a poor make-shift way; it had better been left to the men.

By all means marry. If you get a good wife you will become happy, and if you get a bad one you will become a philosopher.

If you were going to list the 100 most popular things that I have done as president. Being married to Michelle Obama is number one.

Michelle’s like Beyoncé in that song ‘Let me upgrade ya!’ She upgraded me.

The greatest day of my life was the day I married Mrs. Ford.

By taking a second wife he pays the highest compliment to the first, by showing that she made him so happy as a married man, that he wishes to be so a second time.

Husbands and wives, have fun with each other. I’m convinced it makes all the difference in the world.

[on Michelle] Like a lot of political spouses, the role was thrust upon her. But I always knew she’d be incredible at it, and put her own unique stamp on the job. That’s because who you see is who she is-the brilliant, funny, generous woman who, for whatever reason, agreed to marry me. I think people gravitate to her because they see themselves in her-a dedicated mom, a good friend, and someone who’s not afraid to poke a little fun at herself from time to time.

There’s a way of transferring funds that is even faster than electronic banking. It’s called marriage.

If you treat your wife like a thoroughbred, you’ll never end up with a nag.

When two people are under the influence of the most violent, most insane, most delusive, and most transient of passions, they are required to swear that they will remain in that excited, abnormal, and exhausting condition continuously until death do them part.

It has to be a true partnership, and you have to really really like and respect the person you’re married to because it is a hard road.

My advice to you is get married: if you find a good wife you’ll be happy; if not, you’ll become a philosopher.

Obviously I couldn’t have done anything that I’ve done without Michelle… not only has she been a great first lady, she is just my rock. I count on her in so many ways every single day.

Marriage is an alliance entered into by a man who can’t sleep with the window shut, and a woman who can’t sleep with the window open.

Marriage is distinctly and repeatedly excluded from heaven. Is this because it is thought likely to mar the general felicity?