It is better to wrestle with men than to wrangle at home with your wife.
 Honoré de Balzac, Father Goriot (1835). copy citation

add
Author Honoré de Balzac
Source Father Goriot
Topic home wife
Date 1835
Language English
Reference
Note Translated by Ellen Marriage
Weblink http://www.gutenberg.org/files/1237/1237-h/1237-h.htm

Context

“Is it nothing to crawl like a serpent before your wife, to lick her mother’s feet, to descend to dirty actions that would sicken swine—faugh!—never mind if you at least make your fortune. But you will be as doleful as a dripstone if you marry for money. It is better to wrestle with men than to wrangle at home with your wife. You are at the crossway of the roads of life, my boy; choose your way. [*] Travaux forces, forced labour. “But you have chosen already. You have gone to see your cousin of Beauseant, and you have had an inkling of luxury;” source