Regarding marriage, Elizabeth said, “Love is beautiful, but marriage is sacred.”

We all know the principle, but when facing marriage, it’s hard to maintain that rationality and keep the sanctity of marriage.

Some people even treat marriage like a casual relationship, thinking they can get married and divorced as they please.

In the past, divorce was stigmatized, and people would laugh at you. Now, the cost of divorce is much lower, and everyone thinks it’s normal, adopting the attitude of “if it doesn’t work out, just get divorced.”

As the divorce rate continues to rise, many people are hesitant to get married, fearing they’ll end up like this.

To help people understand the significance of marriage, I interviewed 10 divorced couples and saw the truest side of humanity.

1 “Marriage Life Is a Mess”

Before marriage, I thought love was beautiful, and our life together was simple and easy.

After marriage, I realized that marriage wasn’t that simple. Everything became complicated, and we had to face reality, like buying a house, having kids, and dealing with life’s various aspects. In short, marriage life is a mess.

2 “The Relationship with My Mother-in-Law Is Too Difficult”

I used to think that the relationship with my mother-in-law wouldn’t be a big deal, but after getting married, I realized it was unavoidable.

Since getting married, my mother-in-law has been pushing me to have kids, saying I’m getting old and it’s not good for my health. I’m only 24, and I feel like I’m still young. I’m not opposed to having kids, but I want to wait until I’m ready. However, my mother-in-law’s behavior became more and more excessive, and my husband took her side, so I decided to divorce.

3 “They Always Said I Was Incapable”

My wife’s family was better off than mine, and although we had a smooth wedding, after marriage, my in-laws looked down on me, saying I was incapable and didn’t have a promising career.

At first, my wife would speak up for me, but after hearing it so many times, I started to doubt myself. Every time I visited their house, I felt belittled, and eventually, I couldn’t take it anymore and decided to divorce.

4 “It Was All Because of a Rushed Marriage”

After breaking up with my ex, I met my ex-wife, and we got married quickly. I thought she was a great person, kind, and understanding.

We got married within three months of knowing each other, and I thought our marriage would be smooth. However, after marriage, my wife changed, and I realized she was not the kind and gentle person I thought she was. She loved spending money and comparing herself to others.

In the end, we couldn’t make it work, and we got divorced.

5 “A Marriage Without Emotional Foundation Is Hard to Sustain”

I met my ex-husband through a blind date, and we got married after knowing each other for half a year.

I thought marriage was just two people living together, but after marriage, I realized that two people with different values and thoughts can’t make it work.

We couldn’t understand and accept each other’s thoughts and behaviors. That’s when I realized that a marriage without emotional foundation is hard to sustain.

6 “I Only Saw His True Face After Marriage”

When we were dating, I thought he was a good person, kind to me and my family.

After marriage, I saw his true face—he was very patriarchal, wanting to control everything, and would get angry if things didn’t go his way. At first, I could tolerate it, but he became more and more excessive, even suspecting me of things.

I guess that’s what they mean by “he’s only good to you when he wants something, but after marriage, he doesn’t need to be good to you anymore.”

7 “She Never Knew How to Cherish Me”

I vowed to always be good to her and never hurt her. I thought love was mutual, but I never got anything in return.

After marriage, her personality remained the same—she thought everything I did was her right, and if I didn’t do something right, she wouldn’t even give me face.

Although it was hard to let go, I finally did.

8 “Her Betrayal Destroyed Our Marriage”

We were married for many years, and our relationship was stable. After I got promoted, I had to travel frequently.

One time, I came home early and found out she had betrayed me. Although she begged me not to divorce her, I couldn’t take it, and it was too cruel for me.

9 “The Marriage That Was Only for the Sake of the Child Eventually Couldn’t Be Saved”

We were married for almost 20 years, but our relationship wasn’t great, and we didn’t have much in common.

I thought about divorcing her many times, but because of our child, I tolerated it. Later, when our child grew up and understood, I finally divorced her.

10 “I Loved Him, but He Couldn’t Let Go of His Ex-Girlfriend”

He was a sunny and handsome man, and I fell in love with him. He had a girlfriend at the time, but after they broke up, we naturally got together and got married.

However, after marriage, they reconnected, and I discovered it. He admitted he couldn’t let go of his ex-girlfriend, and I didn’t like the idea of a love triangle, so I initiated the divorce.

Before marriage, couples are full of beautiful expectations and hopes, but divorce is a harsh reality.

When it comes to marriage, everyone is selfish, seeking their own happiness, and if they don’t find happiness, they choose divorce. This is the truest thought in the hearts of those who get divorced.

Marriage requires careful consideration, and so does divorce.

Regarding love, Yang Jiang once said, “Don’t give up easily. Believe in each other once, and stick to it. You can grow old together, and the years will be peaceful.”

Married couples, don’t take divorce lightly, and once you’re divorced, don’t expect to turn back. Cherish love and marriage when you have them.

I hope all couples can cherish and live a good life, just like what Qian Zhongshu said to Yang Jiang: “From now on, we’ll only be separated by death, and never by life.”