The problem is when you swear to a person that you will be monogamous with them, and then you don't. The problem isn't that having an "extra-marital" affair is wrong, it's that you made a contract with someone and broke it. That person wanted someone with a certain criteria, and you said that you met that criteria. Later, you break that contract and ruin that person's plans. That's greedy and highly disrespectful.
Furthermore, the person that was cheated on also receives lots of social embarrassment, such as people partly blaming them for the infidelity.
So if you're doing this and screwing someone over, why should anyone care about you saving face? If you don't want to look like an asshole, don't cheat. Be honest and either don't get married or get a divorce.
The problem is when you swear to a person that you will be monogamous with them, and then you don't. The problem isn't that having an "extra-marital" affair is wrong, it's that you made a contract with someone and broke it. That person wanted someone with a certain criteria, and you said that you met that criteria. Later, you break that contract and ruin that person's plans. That's greedy and highly disrespectful.
Furthermore, the person that was cheated on also receives lots of social embarrassment, such as people partly blaming them for the infidelity.
So if you're doing this and screwing someone over, why should anyone care about you saving face? If you don't want to look like an asshole, don't cheat. Be honest and either don't get married or get a divorce.