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matthewh | July 13, 2009 06:03 AM | in Society & Culture

An old phrase says that "Misery loves company." Why is this?

Why do people feel they need to make others miserable to feel better about themselves?

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BEST ANSWER chosen by asker | blitzkrieg | July 13, 2009 04:07 PM

Humans have a strange urge to make others suffer the other way they suffered. That's where the idiom comes in. It's kind of like sadism. I have read many instances where one character tries to sabotage someone else's life because they think that their life could have been as good as the victim's.
I have seen families break apart for financial reasons. At this crucial time, your parents need your support. People do this because they are jealous of your family. Just ignore them, or fight them. After all, letting them damage your family will be letting them win.

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pellrider | July 13, 2009 02:05 PM

"People who are unhappy may get some consolation from knowing that others are unhappy too." From http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Misery+loves+company
"something that you say which means that people who are feeling sad usually want the people they are with to also feel sad On a bad day, she isn't satisfied till the entire family is in tears. Misery loves company."
http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/Misery+loves+company

A song Misery Loves company is in you tube.