"You know why divorces are so expensive? They're worth it"
About this Quote
The intent is classic Nelson: disarming candor wrapped in barroom humor. He’s not defending divorce so much as puncturing the sanctimony around it. “They’re worth it” carries the subtext that staying can be more expensive than leaving, even if the price tag doesn’t show up in court fees and alimony. The hidden ledger is psychological: years of resentment, the slow erosion of self, the performative labor of keeping a bad marriage presentable.
Context matters because Nelson’s public persona has always been a little outlaw, a little sage - the guy who treats hard truths like they’re just part of the weather. In country music, where marriage and heartbreak are staples, divorce is both commonplace and quietly stigmatized. This line gives listeners permission to laugh at a painful milestone while also insisting it can be an act of self-respect, not just wreckage.
It works because it’s a one-sentence argument against romantic martyrdom, smuggled in as a joke. The comedy is the sugar; the worldview is the medicine.
Quote Details
| Topic | Divorce |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Nelson, Willie. (2026, January 14). You know why divorces are so expensive? They're worth it. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/you-know-why-divorces-are-so-expensive-theyre-97892/
Chicago Style
Nelson, Willie. "You know why divorces are so expensive? They're worth it." FixQuotes. January 14, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/you-know-why-divorces-are-so-expensive-theyre-97892/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"You know why divorces are so expensive? They're worth it." FixQuotes, 14 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/you-know-why-divorces-are-so-expensive-theyre-97892/. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.













