Quote by Samuel Johnson
By taking a second wife he pays the highest compliment to the first, by showing that she made him so happy as a married man, that he wishes to be so a second time.
Summary
This quote suggests that when a person chooses to take a second wife, it is not a betrayal or indication of dissatisfaction with the first wife. On the contrary, it implies that the first wife brought so much joy and happiness into the person's life that they desire to experience that bliss again. It is seen as the highest form of compliment, showing that the first wife played such a significant role in their happiness that they seek to replicate it with another spouse.