Quotation by

William Butler Yeats

I have known more men destroyed by the desire to have wife and child and to keep them in comfort than I have seen destroyed by drink and harlots.

Men

Understanding this quote AI Analysis

Yeats is saying that the pressure and longing to provide a comfortable life for a wife and children has caused more men to suffer or fail than addictions or immoral behavior. He highlights how the responsibilities and desires tied to family life can be more damaging than commonly blamed vices.

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