proverb · Source-linked selection
There is one good wife in the country, and every man thinks he hath her.
There is one good wife in the country, and every man thinks he hath her.
Historical period not yet established
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
Affection can make each partner see their own relationship as especially fortunate. The exaggerated claim of one good wife exposes the partiality of personal praise.
What the words are saying
Every husband is pictured as believing he has the single exception in the country. The humour can recognise loving admiration while also questioning a broad negative judgment of everyone else. A modern reading can apply to partners of any gender. It should not treat women as prizes or imply that outsiders can rank their worth. The useful distinction is between appreciating a person and making a universal claim from that attachment.
Everyday example
Someone praises their partner’s kindness without suggesting that other partners lack the same quality.
When to use it
Use it to reflect on affectionate partiality without disparaging others.
Put a useful idea into practice: try the free seven-day guide ↗
What it does not mean
Partners are not ranked possessions, and the gendered generalisation is not a fact.
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 1762 · Wife
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.
- Culture
- English