I think Someuser's right. Half of marriages do last. And when folks get married for the first time later rather than sooner, particularly after getting decent educations--and when they don't get married because of an accidental pregnancy--the success rate is much higher.

Not all marriages are meant to work. I'm convinced of that. But there's a lot to be said for sticking through the rough spots and staying married. It certainly does take work, and it takes a strong desire to be married rather than divorced or single. It's a whole lot easier to throw the towel in, to be honest. I've been married for 24 years. My parents have been for 53 years. My in-laws for 51 years. And my grandparents were married 67 years and 63 years, respectively, when death did them part. So there are some marriages that do last.