There is a long history of writings by men that say that they found married life often quarrelsome. If wives did always obey their husbands, then one would think that men would have had a more restful time of it. I've put together some of those writings below.

I think a "vow more honoured in the breach" is the appropriate summary of this history.

Pr.21:9
"Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife." (Bible)

A good marriage would be between a blind wife and a deaf husband. ~Michel de Montaigne, Essays (Montaigne lived from 1553 to 1592)

"Wommen desiren to have sovereyntee
As wel over hir housbond as hir love,
And for to been in maistrie him above, " (The Wife's Tale in Chauer. For any readers who are not fluent in English, this passage was written in the 14th century explaining the confusing language, and reads something like "women desire to have sovereignty as well over her husband as her love, and to be in mastery above him")

"For what is wedlock forced but a hell,
An age of discord and continual strife?
Whereas the contrary bringeth bliss,
And is a pattern of celestial peace."
(1 Henry VI 5.5.63-6) - Shakespeare

"Curs'd be the man, the poorest wretch in life,
The crouching vassal to a tyrant wife!
Who has no will but by her high permission,
Who has not sixpence but in her possession; " Robert Burns - 1788 - The Henpecked Husband