The Three Rings of Marriage

Posted by: Josef Essberger

“There are three rings involved with marriage. The engagement ring, the wedding ring, and the suffering.” Woody Allen (1935-) American actor, comedian and director Wordchecker ring (noun): a small, round, metal band that you wear on your finger involved with: connected to engagement ring (noun): a ring that a man gives to a woman when they decide to […]

“There are three rings involved with marriage. The engagement ring, the wedding ring, and the suffering.”

Woody Allen (1935-) American actor, comedian and director

Wordchecker
ring (noun): a small, round, metal band that you wear on your finger
involved with: connected to
engagement ring (noun): a ring that a man gives to a woman when they decide to marry
wedding ring (noun): a ring that a married person wears
suffering (noun): a bad and painful feeling

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Posted by Josef Essberger April 2012
Contributor: Josef Essberger, founder of EnglishClub. Originally from London, England, Josef is the author of several books for learners of English including English Prepositions List and Learn English in 7.

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14 comments

• isadorajewellery says:
  

  Rings can become loose over time due to everyday wear and tear. It is important to have them checked and resized if necessary, in order to ensure that they still fit properly. This will help to prevent them from slipping off and being lost.

• Rodney Brown says:
  

  Irene is fine but at the end of the day if there’s no God that ring will never mean nothing the first two are okay the third I don’t know

• Kristi says:
  

  The quote about the three rings of marriage can not be attributed to Woody Allen. Lou Costello, in his usual habit of faltering when speaking his mind, told Marjorie Main’s character in The Wistful Widow of Wagon Gap (1947) why marriage is like a three-ring circus. Given that Woody Allen was born in 1935 – I hardly believe he came up with this bit at the tender age of 12.

  I have read that the concept originates with Greek writer Aeschylus (c. 525 or 524 to 456 BC). However, I have not been able to find any documentation to corroborate the information.

• Bish says:
  

  Marrige is that kind of relation which always made by God. its not painful.

• Ameur says:
  

  Suffering if they loss understanding I think.

• viviana says:
  

  Luckily, the rings are detachable. Not indicated and not a good solution for the first two rings, but for the third, it worth trying.

• Meg says:
  

  You have a third ring, its the eternity ring.

• mohamed says:
  

  I was not marrying but I wish I find another part of me some day and I think marriage is sacrifice for each other for life continue and for children regular life

• Mali says:
  

  Marriage makes people mature, although I always see the empty half of the glass!!

• Joliette says:
  

  Marriage is like a closed watermelon , may be red or …………………… .

• Imran says:
  

  Marriage is like the activities which consistantly appeals to curious mind of the people, and eager to experience it though Experience is a teacher which slap first and teach latter.

• sami hajrullahu says:
  

  I think in the nosmal situation , the first and second is right for every couple , but the third I do not think we should believe it, … Let’s living without third thing hahaha

• pierre corso says:
  

  I must say that Woody Allen really has a good sense of humour when he played with the word “ring” . Maybe he was thinking about his own experience when he said this and i completely agree with him. lol

• saeed says:
  

  first two rings are compulsroy in marriage, but third one is upto both persone that how they understand to each other