We went around asking people how they define marriage; we got a lot of very interesting, and some quite alarming, quotes. A few were cute and cheesy, others quite practical and to an extent, angry. Here’s what we heard; note what nine-year-old kids also had to say about the matter and watch out for what you, couples, share in front of your own kids.

 

The little ones…

 

Left side, both are saying “we are a happy couple” | right side, woman says “you forced me to marry you” and man says “but I like you.”

Left side “being married”, man and woman exchange “I love you” then on the bottom half, the man says “that’s it.” | Right side “without marriage”, the woman says “I want marriage.”

 

Left side “unhappy couple”, man says “enty tale’ bil talata” (I am divorcing you) | Right side “happy couple”, the man says “I love you” and the woman says “I love being a couple.”

 

 

“Marriage is a different world when a couple fall in love. They choose to live together but they have to be ready for their life will change. When I hear the word marriage I think of the word love. But love can be hard because love may not always remain with a married couple. Children can change a married couple’s life. Money will cause problems. Arguing will occur. So you have to consider this all before choosing your spirit’s twin.”

The drawing: left side “before marriage”, the man says “I love you my you. marry you” and the woman says “yes! yes!” | middle part “married with no children”, the man says “I love you” and the woman says “I love you more.” | right side “married with children”, the man says “I don’t love you. Go out of my house”, the woman says “me neither. No you go” and the kids are crying and calling for their mom.

 

“When I think about marriage, I think about love and family. Couples love each other, but it’s hard to choose your lover. They have children. It’s fun to have kids. Marriage is about love and family. It is a big responsibility. Remember your family it’s the same as children gaining love. It’s either you love or not… Just think about it.”

 

“When I think about marriage having children and a home, everyday I have my food ready. No sadness anymore. I go to my work thinking about my life how I want to stay with my wife. I imagine I don’t have anything to do except sitting with my wife. Nothing better than my family, my children, my wife, my everything in my life. Kindness, happiness, all of that I will find in marriage.”

Continued: “all I have to do being happy. Out in the morning, in in the afternoon. Under the rain trying to come to be with you. Terrible weather but I’m trying to come and stay with you. More! You are kind and happy. Really you will find marrying is the best. Reasons why I love it, I’m happy with it. Are you ready to do it? Go, go don’t be afraid! Even if you can just imagine it.”

The romantics… 

“Marriage is that unfelt, unknown, unseen power that gives you hope when it’s dark, strength when you’re weak, and laughter when you’re sad,” Mostafa El Faramawy, 29 years old, engaged. He adds “I would say I got married to my fiancé the day we both agreed to commit and the day we agreed to make life more joyous.”

“The sweetest mistake and a commitment that ties a person down by their own will.” 18-year-old female

“When two become one,” Reem El Tonsy, 31, engaged.

“Sitting on the couch with the same person for 50 years and not getting bored of him,” Noha Nabil, 32, single.

“An essential ingredient for a balanced life,” Faika Abdel Malek, a 60-year-old widow after 35 years of marriage.

“Never getting tired or bored from living every single moment with my partner, and actually looking forward to waking up next to him every morning… Wanting to share every single moment of my life with him,” Rabaa Abu Botain, 28, married for four years.

The realists…

“Best friends and housemates who are willing to stick together, flaws and all,”  Chadi Serhal, unattached.

“Sharing and experiencing life together.” Menna Hassan, 31, in a relationship.

“Most of those who fall in love and get married live a sad life; but those who fall in friendship and get married live a lovely life,” Oussu Lotfy, 34, unattached.

“Two friends (preferably best friends) who can tolerate each other’s bullshit and are sexually attracted to each other,” 25-year-old female.

“Marriage is what you make out of it. It could be the best thing that happened to you, and it could be the worst thing that happened to you,” Khaled Ragab, 32, married for four years.

“Compassion and affection; two of the most important factors for a happy marriage.” Indjy Hosny, 32, engaged.

“Marriage has the power to either kill love or revive it.” 23-year-old female.

“Marriage is a partnership, the two of you teaming up against whatever life throws your way. You need someone to laugh, cry and have fun with through it all,” Nadine Okasha, 32, married for three and a half years.

“Marriage is like a company; you have a certain a passion that you have to work on for the rest of your life and if you don’t it will eventually shut down.” Hatem Saleh, 31, in a relationship.

“The one trait I’ve noticed in people who have successful marriages is patience. Being with the same person, supposedly for the rest of your life, requires a sizable amount of patience. Additionally, I believe that marriage only works if the partners go into it with the idea that they are two separate individuals, who are there to encourage each other to grow, thrive, and chase their dreams, instead of two people completing each other, shame on you, Jerry Maguire, with your ‘you complete me’ business. Nobody completes anybody. If you feel that you’re ‘incomplete’ then some self-discovery is in order. A partner is supposed to help you thrive, not complete you. That’s a recipe for codependency.” Nahed Barakat, 31, single.

“Marriage is the final destination on the train of love. One can jump out right before it, enjoy getting off the train, or take the ride all over again.” Saif Mahmoud, 19, in a relationship.

The practical…

“The inevitable evil. You can live alone all your youth but, when you’re senile, you will need someone around for the loneliness.” Female, unidentified age.

“Legally ok,” Sophie Pelatan, 32, married for three years.

“A social system that’s a complete failure but that is religiously important,” Hisham Abdel Hamid, 58, married for 27 years.

“The relationship between a man and woman who want to procreate and live their life together,” a 29-year-old male from Italy.

“I believe it’s only useful for sexual needs, otherwise it’s a waste of money, time and energy.” 20-year-old male

The non-believers…

 

“Marriage is a man-made contract done by humans to try and attempt to be monogamous. I never really believed in it, but unfortunately, society enforces it on us telling us we have to do it. We are the only animals trying to be monogamous. It’s quite silly really,” a 30-year-old single female.

“Marriage is so silly,” a 36-year-old male.

“It’s a false institute that gives a fake impression about love and builds hatred.” A 70-year-old divorced female.

“Marriage is a dead end, as humans, once we take anything for granted, we ruin it,” 22-year-old female.

“The happy ending that comes in the beginning.” 17-year-old female.

“Naive reckless move undertaken by those allured by emotions. Promising someone eternal love and a better tomorrow is retarded; why would you promise someone what you have no idea about?” 21-year-old female.

“Marriage is the magical effect that turns princesses into witches,” anonymous.

Un-categorized…

 

“Marriage is a big screen TV, infused with major calories!” Naila Fateen, 31, married for three months.

“Marriage is like a never ending conversation between two; no subject is ever closed and new ones always come up,” Alya Barakat, 34, married for two years.

Ismail Roshdy emailed us this video as his definition of what he believes marriage is like:

 

We also got this video from Qatar:

 

Elsewhere in the world:

Alexi Fernandez, a Spanish friend living in Barcelona says that part of the young society in Spain sees it as “a mandatory routine of life imposed by society. It is thought to be unsexy, as the end of passion and the beginning of routine, the end of youth. It is believed to change love to duty.” Fernandez adds that in Spain, “marriage has quite a bad reputation as something old school from the dictatorship that was linked to the Catholic Church. It represents backwardness.”

About the conception of marriage in France, Sophie Pelatan says “Marriage has a religious connotation. Couples who don’t to want to have anything to do with religion sign this contract called ‘pacs’ which makes you legally a couple but not actually referred to as ‘married.’ A lot of couples decide to go with that contract rather than marriage because divorce is too much of a scary concept so it’s easier to just break the pacs than to go through divorce.”