Comparing Countries after Disasters Revisited: the Filipino Flood and the Japanese Quake
An old Chinese saying to wish newlyweds longevity in their marriages is "同享共福,同甘共苦," roughly meaning "enjoying all the fortunes together, suffering all the bitterness together." Centuries of experiences show that while the first comes pretty for most, the latter almost inevitably lead to some sort to schism between the two halves of the couple, especially when the "bitterness" occurs after "fortunes." People are fundamentally selfish, too willing to put the interests of others and the collective on the line so that they themselves can enjoy just a bit more . The increases in divorces in recent years attest very much to this.