The proverb ‘Drinking water from your wife’s hand, not out of thirst but out of affection’ indicates that some things we do are not driven by necessity but by love and affection for those we care about. This reflects actions done out of love or tenderness, even if they are not needed, simply to show affection. The equivalent in English might be ‘It’s the thought that counts’, although this has a broader and less affectionate focus.