Proverbs and sayings offer up wise words from all corners of the world. Best savoured a little at a time, these sayings are passed down from generation to generation. Each Friday, I post a saying, or proverb and a quote that I find thought-provoking. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
Each Friday, I post a Proverb or Saying and a Quote that I find thought-provoking.
I hope you think so too.
Continuing with the theme of ‘love,’ and ‘marriage, we have a somewhat reassuring proverb from the landlocked country of Burundi.
Where there is love, there is no darkness –
(Burundian proverb)
It is not a lack of love, but a lack of friendship that makes unhappy marriage –
Friedrich Nietzsche.
Do you agree with Nietzsche?
He is often controversial, often provocative.
Do you think this was his intention to be controversial in saying this?
After all, he had fairly fixed opinions of marriage, viewing it as a potentially lengthy conversation, in this quote:
“When marrying you should ask yourself this question: do you believe you are going to enjoy talking with this woman into your old age? Everything else in a marriage is transitory, but most of the time that you’re together will be devoted to conversation.”
Proverbial Friday – Always Something to Ponder more About
Something to Ponder About 
I agree that a strong friendship is at the core of a strong relationship, especially marriage.
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It makes sense as you share more hours of your life with this person than anyone else. Common bond of caring and enjoying each other’s company is just as important as romantic love.
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My thoughts exactly 🙂
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I agree with Nietzsche completely. Poor John and I have spent hours and hours and hours in one another’s company. We have to be friends.
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Have to be,Peggy and clearly still want to be!
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I think Nietzsche’s quote is very pragmatic – love is one thing, but to live with someone you must have that friendship as well.
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Indeed it is pragmatic, Andrea! It would be most difficult to have a long term romantic relationship without love. Then it might be seen to be somewhat exploitative of the other’s body just to service one’s own needs? Perhaps an explanation for failed romantic relationships is that lack of continual friendship. We look after our friendships but some of us fall into the trap of expecting more out of a romantic relationship, we might expect it to happen naturally without putting in any effort to keep it alive, thriving and fun. Effort can constitute many things tangible and intangible: encouraging words, a reassuring hug, a kind gesture, thinking about how the other person is coping – empathy. Showing you care, I think, is fundamental to trust and therefore a strong relationship/friendship.
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I enjoy this posts. Thanks for sharing with us.
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Thank you for visiting Something to ponder about! Come back again soon. I post Proverbial Friday each week.
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