Who said “I wonder, among all the tangles of this mortal coil, which one contains tighter knots to…”?

Verified

Edith Wharton. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceLetter to John Hugh Smith (12 February 1909), published in The Letters of Edith Wharton (1988)

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“I wonder, among all the tangles of this mortal coil, which one contains tighter knots to undo, & consequently suggests more tugging, & pain, & diversified elements of misery, than the marriage tie.”
— Edith Wharton
VerifiedLetter to John Hugh Smith (12 February 1909), published in The Letters of Edith Wharton (1988) · evidenceMarriage

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Letter to John Hugh Smith (12 February 1909), published in The Letters of Edith Wharton (1988).

APA

Wharton, E. (n.d.). I wonder, among all the tangles of this mortal coil, which one contains tighter knots to undo, & consequently suggests more tugging, & pain, & diversified elements of misery, than the marriage tie. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/22187-i-wonder-among-all-the-tangles-of-this/

MLA

Wharton, Edith. “I wonder, among all the tangles of this mortal coil, which one contains tighter knots to undo, & consequently suggests more tugging, & pain, & diversified elements of misery, than the marriage tie.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/22187-i-wonder-among-all-the-tangles-of-this/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Wharton, Edith. “I wonder, among all the tangles of this mortal coil, which one contains tighter knots to undo, & consequently suggests more tugging, & pain, & diversified elements of misery, than the marriage tie.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/22187-i-wonder-among-all-the-tangles-of-this/.

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“When people ask for time, it's always for time to say no. Yes has one more letter in it, but it doesn't take half as long to say.”
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All 14 Edith Wharton quotes →