"What is respected, in short, is fidelity to the ancient flag of the
family, and a readiness to fight for what I have noted as its unique
type of freedom. I say readiness to fight, for fortunately the fight
itself is the exception rather than the rule. The soldier is not
respected because he is doomed to death, but because he is ready for
death; and even ready for defeat. The married man or woman is not doomed
to evil, sickness or poverty; but is respected for taking a certain step
for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness or in health.
But there is one result of this line of argument which should correct a
danger in some arguments on the same side." — G.K. Chesterton, The Superstition of Divorce
No one gets married in order to become worse, but everyone who gets married is willing to be worse in order to be married. No one gets married in order to be poorer, but everyone who gets married is willing to be a bit poorer in order to be married. No one gets married to be sicker, but everyone who gets married is willing to be sicker in order to stay married.
A man must be willing to lay down his life for his bride, but he doesn't marry her hoping to be separated from her by martyrdom. Fidelity is a strong desire to keep things the same as they are combined with a strong willingness to endure change in order to keep the same thing.
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