proverb · Words worth keeping
Saith Solomon the wise A good wife's a prize.
Saith Solomon the wise A good wife's a prize.
Historical period not yet established
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
The saying praises a valued spouse through the language of a prize. A careful reading recognises mutual care without treating a partner as an object won.
What the words are saying
The source invokes Solomon while presenting a good wife as a desirable reward. That attribution in the saying is not independent evidence of its historical origin. Its useful modern reflection concerns gratitude for a caring partnership. It should include reciprocity, consent and the other person’s own purposes, rather than judging them only by what they supply to a husband.
Everyday example
A person thanks their partner for support and asks how to reciprocate it rather than presenting the relationship as a personal trophy.
When to use it
Use it to discuss appreciation within a mutually respectful partnership.
What it does not mean
A spouse is not a prize or possession; the source’s attribution is not verified here.
Agent-assisted editorial interpretation. This explains the words; it does not by itself verify their author or earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- Historical period not yet established
No sufficiently supported historical placement has been established. Import and download dates are not treated as composition dates. - Recorded source
- A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases
Entry 1765 · Wife (good)
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.
- Culture
- English