A wedding never bought a wife.

Taken from Orson Welles' "Moral Indebtedness" column in the October 1943 Issue of Free World.

The use of this phrase, in the context that Mr Welles does, shows an understanding of the idea that many of the results that we hope to be so are not necessarily conducive with, or inherent within our approaches. That a single, extravagant gesture can not denote ownership or credit.

That, which is of real worth, must be earnt through genuine and unwavering efforts of love and determination.

"The extension of this moral argument insists that no man owns anything outright—since he owns it rent free. A wedding never bought a wife. And the devotion of his child is no man’s for the mere begetting."