"I'm also interested in the modern suggestion that you can have a combination of love and sex in a marriage - which no previous society has ever believed"

This quote by Alain de Botton suggests that modern society has a different view on marriage than previous societies. He is suggesting that modern society believes that it is possible to have both love and sex in a marriage, something that no other society has actually ever believed before. This might be seen as a positive change in society, as it recommends that marital relationship is no longer practically functionality and duty, however also about love and passion. It might also be viewed as an indication of progress, as it recommends that society is becoming more unbiased and accepting of different types of relationships. This quote might likewise be translated as a warning, as it recommends that modern-day society is pushing the limits of what is acceptable in a marital relationship, which this might result in problems in the future. Ultimately, this quote is a reflection on how society's views on marriage have actually altered gradually, and how this could have both favorable and unfavorable implications.