Never strike your wife, even with a flower.
Never strike your wife, even with a flower.
Meaning in plain English
A wife not to be struck even with a flower makes nonviolence absolute through an apparently gentle object. The saying rejects an excuse based on how slight an assault appears.
Example
Someone rejects a claim that an unwanted physical act was harmless because it was done lightly.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
A responsible interpretation extends respect and bodily autonomy beyond the marital role named in the source. It does not make lesser force acceptable or imply that harm requires a visible injury. Affection and disagreement provide no entitlement to strike another person.
When to use it
Use it to discuss nonviolence and bodily autonomy.
Keep in mind
No marital entitlement to force or excuse from a small object is implied.
Edsverb editorial interpretation · agent reviewed · 2026-10-05. This explains the saying; it does not establish its historical origin.
- Country attributed by the collection
India · source-attributed; earliest origin unverified
- Source
- Contributor-provided wisdom reference
Supplied reference B; unit 372; PDF page 37; collection label: India
Reuse and collection notes ↗ - Attribution confidence
- traditional · supplied collection
Preserved as printed; independently unverified. - Historical coordinate
- Undated
No reliable date supplied by the collection. - Rights & edition
- Contributor-confirmed reuse permission
Translations and rights may differ elsewhere.
Provenance and licences ↗
Word-matched topics