When the rose and the cross are united the alchemical marriage is complete and the drama ends. Then we wake from history and enter eternity.
Love is more pleasant than marriage for the same reason that novels are more amusing than history.
If we did not look to marriage as the principal source of happiness fewer marriages would end in tears.
I've done an informal anecdotal survey about marriage and I've found no evidence that it brings happiness.
The thing is when I had my first success it did coincide with the end of my first marriage and because I went on to have a very very unhappy two years I don't think I equate career success with personal happiness.
Marriage is wild. I thought it was this perfect land of happiness and joy. Wrong! After you say you do you don't for a long time.
I've often thought if I didn't make my marriage work I would have failed at my one true shot at happiness.
Getting married for me was the best thing I ever did. I was suddenly beset with an immense sense of release that we have something more important than our separate selves and that is the marriage. There's immense happiness that can come from working towards that.
Always remember that the most important thing in a good marriage is not happiness but stability.
Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance.