"Marriage is good enough for the lower classes: they have facilities for desertion that are denied to us"
- George Bernard Shaw
About this Quote
This quote by George Bernard Shaw is a commentary on the distinctions in between the upper and lower classes. He is suggesting that marital relationship is a sufficient alternative for the lower classes because they have the capability to desert their partners if the marital relationship is not working out. This is in contrast to the upper classes, who do not have the same liberty to leave a marriage, as they are bound by social conventions and expectations. Shaw is indicating that the upper classes are stuck in marriages that might not be working, while the lower classes have the alternative to leave if they are dissatisfied. This quote highlights the inequality in between the classes and the lack of flexibility that the upper classes have in their marriages. It likewise recommends that marriage is not necessarily a good thing for everyone, and that it should not be forced upon people who do not want it.