There may be good, but there are no pleasant marriages.
Interpretation
This quote suggests that while a marriage can be good in a moral or fundamental sense, it often lacks the aspects that make it enjoyable or pleasant.
Rainer Maria Rilke's quote reflects the complexity of marital relationships, implying that the inherent goodness of a partnership does not guarantee happiness or satisfaction. This perspective highlights the often challenging and sometimes uncomfortable realities of living closely with another person, suggesting that marriages, while potentially fulfilling, are rarely devoid of struggles and difficulties.
In practice
In a wedding speech, one might quote this to reflect on the realities of marriage.
Spring has again returned. _x000D_ _x000D_ The Earth is like a child that knows many poems._x000D_ _x000D_ Many, O so many. For the hardship_x000D_ _x000D_ of such long learning she receives the prize._x000D_ _x000D_ _x000D_ Strict was her teacher. _x000D_ _x000D_ The white in the old man's beard pleases us._x000D_ _x000D_ Now, what to call green, to call blue,_x000D_ _x000D_ we dare to ask: She knows, She knows!
Verses are not, as people think, feelings (those one has early enough) -- they are experiences. For the sake of a verse one must see many cities, men, and things, one must know the animals feel how birds fly, and know the gesture with which the little flowers open in the morning.
a good marriage is that in which each appoints the other guardian of his solitude
He reproduced himself with so much humble objectivity, with the unquestioning, matter of fact interest of a dog who sees himself in a mirror and thinks: there's another dog.
The only journey is the one within.
And now we welcome the new year, full of things that have never been
There are occasions on which all apology is rudeness.
Unless people feel that they are accepted and that they have a right to express their feelings without fear of embarrassment or ridicule, all they will do is react and rebel and struggle for their identity.
In the confusion we stay with each other, happy to be together, speaking without uttering a single word.
Married couples who quarrel bitterly every day may really need each other as deeply as those who appear to be desperately in love.
Sometimes it seems the harder you try to hold onto something or someone the more it wants to get away. You feel like some kind of criminal for having felt, for having wanted. For having wanted to be wanted. It confuses you because you think that your feelings were wrong and it makes you feel so small because it’s so hard to keep it inside when you let it out and it doesn’t come back. You’re left so alone that you can’t explain.
People shop for a bathing suit with more care than they do a husband or wife. The rules are the same. Look for something you'll feel comfortable wearing. Allow for room to grow.
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