Never ever discount the idea of marriage. Sure, someone might

Hear now the voice of Dennis Miller, a man who cloaks sharp truths in the robe of humor, yet leaves wisdom lingering in the hearts of those who listen. He proclaims: “Never ever discount the idea of marriage. Sure, someone might tell you that marriage is just a piece of paper. Well, so is money, and what's more life-affirming than cold, hard cash?” At first, the words appear playful, a jest spun for laughter. But beneath the jest lies a truth carved deep into the foundations of society: both marriage and money, though written on mere paper, hold the power to shape destinies, bind lives, and alter the course of human history.

What is marriage but an oath written and sealed upon a fragile sheet? Yet the weight of that “piece of paper” is heavier than stone, for it contains within it the promise of union, loyalty, and shared destiny. What is money but ink upon a slip of parchment? Yet kingdoms rise and fall, wars are waged, and lives are sustained by its presence or absence. Thus Miller, with wit, reminds us that we should not despise the outward form simply because it is thin and common, for behind the paper lies meaning, trust, and the force of human agreement.

Consider the story of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Their marriage was not merely a private bond of affection; it was written, sealed, and acknowledged as a sacred contract that bound two nations and shaped an era. The “piece of paper” that declared them wed became the root of a dynasty, giving rise to generations and altering the balance of European history. Like money, the paper itself had little value—but the trust, honor, and recognition behind it carried a weight beyond measure.

The origin of Miller’s wisdom lies in humanity’s strange tendency to mock what is ordinary. Many dismiss marriage as unnecessary, claiming love needs no paper. Yet just as wealth cannot flow without coin or note, so too the promises of love require form and covenant to endure across time. The paper is not the essence—it is the vessel. Without the vessel, essence is easily spilled, forgotten, or denied. A marriage oath, like a currency, turns private devotion into a public covenant, binding two lives not only in feeling but in recognition, in law, and in the eyes of community.

The quote also carries a challenge: do not be deceived by those who scorn traditions as empty, for often beneath such customs lies the accumulated wisdom of centuries. Marriage has been revered not only as romance, but as alliance, as shield against loneliness, as hearth where families are forged. Just as societies trust paper money to represent wealth, so too they trust marriage vows to represent fidelity and union. The form may be simple, but the meaning is profound.

Yet Miller’s humor also warns us: to enter marriage lightly, thinking only of the paper, is folly. The value lies not in the ink and seal but in the life lived under its promise. As money becomes meaningless without work, trust, and shared value, so too does marriage crumble without love, respect, and labor of the heart. The piece of paper is only the beginning; the true wealth lies in the faithfulness that follows.

So, children of tomorrow, take this teaching to heart: honor both marriage and money not for the paper they are written on, but for the meaning they carry. If you would wed, do so with the seriousness of one handling treasure; if you would spend your life in partnership, treat it as you would wealth, to be nurtured, invested, and protected. Mock not the vessel, lest you lose the gift within.

And remember this lesson: paper may be fragile, but the promises it represents—whether of love or prosperity—are strong enough to build nations, sustain families, and endure across generations. Therefore, never discount the power of the covenant, whether sealed in coin or in vow. For in both, life finds its affirmation, and the future is built.