Franklin suggests that a marriage lacking genuine affection may create conditions in which love is sought outside the marriage. The first half describes a formal union without emotional attachment; the second reverses the terms, implying that affection may then develop beyond the marital relationship. The saying therefore contrasts legal or social commitment with personal feeling.

The maxim is deliberately symmetrical and should not be read as claiming that loveless marriages inevitably lead to infidelity. Its broader point is that formal institutions alone cannot create affection. A durable relationship may depend not only on obligation or social convention, but also on mutual attachment and emotional connection. Franklin’s observation reflects a practical concern with the consequences that can follow when marriage and love become separated.