The third reason he gives is that we marry to try to make a nice feeling permanent. We think you can bottle up how you feel, but marriage doesn't do that. In your opinion, does this ring true?

He concludes by suggesting that a more pessimistic, less romantic, view of marriage. Realising that "every human will frustrate, anger, annoy, madden and disappoint us — and we will (without any malice) do the same to them" will put less pressure on marriages and make them more successful. To what extend do you agree?

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An essay by Alain de Botton called 'why you will marry the wrong person' has been attracting a lot of attention online. In it he gives three main reasons why people so often marry the wrong person. First, we are looking to recreate the love we knew in childhood, complete with whatever destructive dynamics it came with. It doesn't feel authentic if it is too happy. In your opinion, does this ring true?

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The second reason he gives is that our fear of being lonely and single makes us choose rashly and badly. In your opinion, does this ring true?

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Select a country

How strong is county identity in England?

Do Brits think of themselves as citizens of their country or citizens of the world?

What political alignment is the British Public?

Most Europeans in six countries support banning social media for under-16s

How do Britons feel about going to the Moon?

Britons increasingly negative about the United States’ impact on the world

How do Scots feel about the abolished “not proven” verdict?

Do Britons support reparations for the slave trade in principle?

By 49% to 33%, Britons say King Charles should cancel official visit to USA