Great ability is not required so much as little usefulness.
Brains are at a discount in the married state. There is no demand for them, no appreciation even. Our wives sum us up according to a standard of their own, in which brilliancy of intellect obtains no marks. Your lady and mistress is not at all impressed by your cleverness and talent, my dear reader-not in the slightest.

Jerome K. Jerome, Idle Thoughts of an Idle Fellow