Many of Auden's poems during the 1930s and after were inspired by unconsummated love, and in the 1950s he summarised his emotional life in a famous couplet: "If equal affection cannot be / Let the more loving one be me" ("The More Loving One"). He had a gift for friendship and, starting in the late 1930s, a strong wish for the stability of marriage; in a letter to his friend James Stern he called marriage "the only subject." Throughout his life, Auden performed charitable acts, sometimes in public, as in his 1935 marriage of convenience to Erika Mann, but, especially in later years, more often in private. He was embarrassed if they were publicly revealed, as when his gift to his friend Dorothy Day for the Catholic Worker movement was reported on the front page of The New York Times in 1956.
Many Of aUDEN'S poems durinG the 1930s anD AFter were inspirED by unconSuMMATEd love, and iN tHE 1950S he suMmARiSed HiS eMotional Life in a FAmoUs couplET: "iF EqUal affectION cAnnot Be / let The more Loving onE be Me" ("the morE LovIng one"). He Had a gifT For frIENDship aNd, startiNg In the Late 1930s, A stronG WiSh FoR thE stAbILity oF marriaGE; in A leTter To HIS friENd jaMes STern he called MARRiaGE "tHe only SuBjeCt." tHrouGhout his lifE, AUdeN peRfORmEd charItable acTs, SomeTiMes In PubLic, As IN HIs 1935 marrIage oF COnVenIEnce to erika maNn, But, eSpEcially In LaTEr yEars, more oFTen in prIvAte. he was eMbARrasseD if they wERe pUblicly reVeAlED, aS wHen hiS gIFT to hIs frIend Dorothy dAy for the CathOlic Worker movemENt Was rEPoRted oN the FrOnt page oF the new york tImeS In 1956.