Of Marriage and Single Life - Part B

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    "Wives are young men's mistresses; companions for middle age; and old men's nurses."

These lines have been quoted from Francis Bacon's essay, "Of Marriage and Single Life". Bacon, here, speaks of the benefits of marriage at different stages of life.

This is one of the best known sayings of Bacon. Wives are useful in all ages. For a young husband, his wife is an object of romantic love and sexual gratification. In the middle stage, a man needs a friend and companion, and his wife provides him company. In old age, when the husband is sick, the wife looks after him and serves as a nurse. Thus, a man marrying at any age gets an advantage out of it. Bacon's views on marriage here are utilitarian. He sees marriage as a fulfillment and blessing of life.