“MARRIAGE is an institution for the perpetuation of the spiritual life of the species. Unlike the more durable elements of nature, the everlasting hills, the solid rocks, organisms are frail and short-lived. They bloom and they wither. It is curious to reflect how soft or brittle is the material of which they consist — flesh and bones that crumble at death into a little heap of dust. Organisms, therefore, need constantly to be renewed or reproduced if the species is to continue; and this is as true of the human species as of any other. But in the case of human beings, spiritual factors enter in and constitute an enormous difference between them and the inferior creatures.

“In the lower ranks of life the individual exists for the sake of the species. Nature has implanted the strong attraction of sex, as a lure, to accomplish her ulterior purpose, that of the continuance of the species to which the mating individuals belong. Unconsciously they serve her ends. Among human beings precisely the opposite becomes true in proportion as the sex relation is ennobled. The more it is ennobled, the more is the continuance of the life of the species made the occasion of furthering the spiritual interests of the individual, of conducing to the highest and subtlest development of individuality.”

— Felix Adler, Marriage and Divorce; 1915

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