Alain de Botton Quotes on Marriage, born December 20, 1969, in Zurich, Switzerland, is a British-Swiss philosopher and author renowned for his insightful explorations of human relationships, particularly in books like The Course of Love (2016) and Essays in Love (1993). As the founder of The School of Life, he combines philosophy, psychology, and wit to unpack the complexities of love and marriage, emphasizing their challenges, compromises, and deeper meanings. These 15 quotes—sourced from his books, interviews, and posts on X—reflect his thoughts on marriage, commitment, intimacy, and partnership, infused with his empathetic and introspective style.
15 Alain de Botton Quotes on Marriage
- “Marriage is not the end of romance; it is the beginning of a new kind of romance, one that requires forgiveness and compromise.” (The Course of Love, 2016)
- “We don’t need to be constantly reasonable in order to have good relationships; all we need to have mastered is the occasional capacity to acknowledge with good grace that we may, in one or two areas, be somewhat insane.” (The Course of Love, 2016)
- “The partner truly best suited to us is not the one who miraculously happens to share every taste, but the one who can negotiate differences in taste with intelligence and grace.” (The Course of Love, 2016)
- “In marriage, love means having to say sorry a lot, not because you’re always wrong, but because you value the relationship more than your ego.” (The Course of Love, 2016)
- “Maturity begins with the capacity to sense and, in good time and without defensiveness, admit to our own craziness.” (The Course of Love, 2016)
- “A good marriage is one where both partners quietly agree to tolerate each other’s imperfections for the sake of something greater.” (The Course of Love, 2016)
- “The romantic view of marriage stresses that you should find the ‘right’ person. A wiser view is that you should become the right person, daily.” (Post on X, @alaindebotton, 2018-06-12)
- “Marriage is a courageous act of optimism, a belief that two flawed people can build something enduring together.” (The Course of Love, 2016)
- “In a marriage, you don’t solve problems once and for all; you learn to live with them gracefully.” (The Course of Love, 2016)
- “Love in marriage is less about passion and more about the patient art of understanding someone else’s flaws.” (The Course of Love, 2016)
- “A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person, but in new ways.” (Interview, The Guardian, 2016)
- “Marriage thrives on the ability to forgive, not because we are saints, but because we are all flawed.” (The Course of Love, 2016)
- “The fantasy of marriage is that it will fix us; the reality is that it reveals us, and asks us to grow.” (The Course of Love, 2016)
- “In a good marriage, both partners accept that they are, at times, difficult to live with—and that’s okay.” (The Course of Life, 2016)
- “Marriage is a school for emotional education, where we learn to love not just the best in each other, but the entirety.” (The Course of Love, 2016)
Alain de Botton’s quotes on marriage are a tender and realistic blend of empathy, pragmatism, and hope, inspiring couples to embrace the messy beauty of commitment, forgive generously, and grow together. Which quote resonates with your view of marriage? Share it below and keep de Botton’s wise philosophy thriving!
Emma Thompson
Hi, I'm Emma Thompson, founder of MyLittleDesire. I share relationship advice, love quotes, and thoughtful gift ideas to help you express your feelings and strengthen your bonds. Let's celebrate love together!
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