[riverdawg]

“He should not have waited until he was 47 to marry.”

What is the optimal age for a first marriage?

[Dr. Sivana]

What is the optimal age for a first marriage?

It varies. Of course you have to find the right girl, which is a complicating factor. The main problem with a man marrying older is he gets used to not having to think about the other person, you risk living lives in parallel. Also, if the woman is of childbearing years, you have to consider your age when the children are growing up.

As a rule of thumb, I'd say under 40 if you are marrying a girl considerably younger than you (10+ years).

In O'Reilly's case, he is a bit of an ol' cuss, and was one even when younger. He might have been served well (and been a better husband) if he maried when he was a bit younger.