The Rules of Love, 3rd Edition

RULE 30

Don’t belittle your partner

This is so sad, and I bet you know people who do it. I certainly do. Know people who do it, that is. I don’t do it – I think it’s a terrible thing. They put their partner down in front of other people, belittle them, make them feel small. You wonder what they’re doing with that person if they think so little of them, although I’m not sure that what they say is really what they’re thinking. They just derive some kind of pleasure from humiliating their partner. I’ve known some people do it in a big way and others in a small way. I’ve known people do it just occasionally because they’re angry with their partner over some petty argument.

This is not the way to behave. Not towards anyone and especially, especially ...