"Strike an average between what a woman thinks of her husband a month before she marries him and what she thinks of him a year afterward, and you will have the truth about him"

This quote by H. L. Mencken recommends that a lady's viewpoint of her partner can change dramatically with time. Before marriage, a female may have an idealized view of her other half, however after a year of marital relationship, her opinion may be more realistic. Mencken recommends that the reality about a partner lies somewhere in between these two point of views. He suggests that a female's viewpoint of her husband is likely to alter gradually, and that the truth about him lies somewhere in the middle. This quote is a tip that relationships take some time and effort to preserve, and that it is important to be sensible about expectations. It likewise recommends that it is important to be available to alter and to be willing to change one's opinion of a partner over time.