The bonds of matrimony are like any other bonds - they mature slowly.

De Vries’s line turns on the double meaning of “bonds.” In one sense, marriage is a tie of affection and obligation; in another, a “bond” is a financial instrument that accrues value over time. The joke suggests that matrimony, like an investment, doesn’t instantly yield its full return: intimacy, trust, and shared life are compounded gradually through experience. At the same time, the comparison carries a dry edge—marriage can feel contractual, even interest-bearing in its demands. The wit lies in treating a romantic institution with the language of finance, implying both patience and a slightly skeptical view of marital idealism.