CHAPTER TWO
Verily, verily, my Daughter, the fool hath said in her heart, “All men should marry! For there is a reason for everything under the sun, save a bachelor.”
But I have gone among the bachelors, questioning them, young and old; and I say unto thee, the “reasons” why a man taketh a stimulant are not more numerous and wonderful than the reasons why he doth not marry.
Behold, he doth not marry:
Because he is too young.
Because he is too old.
Because he hath not thought about it.
Because he hath thought too much about it.
Because he is poor and cannot afford a wife.
Because he is rich and doth not require a wife.
Because he loveth no woman.
Because he loveth all women.
Because he hath not met the right woman.
Because he hath met the right woman and been “disappointed”.
Because he hath many illusions concerning women.
Because he hath no illusions concerning them.
Because no woman is good enough.
Because he is not “good enough” for any woman.
Because he is not ready to settle down.
Because he is already settled down, and is content.
Because he is weak and fearful.
Because he is strong and impregnable.
And, likewise—just because.