- English translation
A man who takes two wives must either be able to manage both households or be bold enough to attempt what he cannot sustain.
- Literal wording
Whoever marries two [wives] is either capable or audacious.
- Meaning and lesson
In its traditional framing, the saying presents a man who takes two wives as facing an exacting test: he must have the means and ability to provide for both and deal fairly between them. It reflects assumptions about a husband’s duties in such a marriage, rather than endorsing them as a general rule.
The alternative is deliberately critical. If he lacks the capacity to meet those responsibilities, his choice is characterized as blameworthy audacity—boldly undertaking what he cannot manage—rather than as moral depravity in a broad sense.
- When it is used
Used as a cautionary comment on a man taking two wives without sufficient means or ability to support both and maintain fairness between them. Its force is critical of assuming obligations beyond one’s capacity, within the saying’s traditional marital framework.
Cite or copy proverb
How this record reached us: Editorially sourced.
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