ProverbHuman Nature
Spanish origin
Spanish originMal de muchos, consuelo de tontos
Meaning: Finding comfort in the fact that others suffer too is foolish.
Literally: The ill of many is the consolation of fools
Example: “Que todos hayan suspendido no te ayuda; mal de muchos, consuelo de tontos.” — Everyone else failing doesn't help you: misery loves company, but it doesn't fix anything.
Equivalents in English, Japanese, German, Italian, Russian, and Chinese
English: Misery loves company
Japanese: 同病相憐れむ (Dōbyō ai awaremu) (literally: Those with the same illness sympathize with each other)
German: Geteiltes Leid ist halbes Leid (literally: Shared sorrow is half sorrow)
Italian: Mal comune, mezzo gaudio (literally: A shared ill is half a joy)
Russian: На миру и смерть красна (Na miru i smert' krasna) (literally: Among people, even death is fine)
Chinese: 同病相怜 (Tóng bìng xiāng lián) (literally: Those with the same illness pity each other)
Origin: A rebuke to anyone who says "at least I'm not the only one": a shared misfortune is still a misfortune.
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