misery loves company

Now predominantly current in the United States. Cf. mid 14th-cent. L. gaudium est miseris socios habuisse penarum, it is a comfort to the wretched to have companions in woes; a 1349 R. ROLLE Meditations on Passion in C. Horstmann Yorkshire Writers (1895) I. 101 It is solace to haue companie in peyne.

1578 LYLY Euphues I. 238 In miserie Euphues it is a great comfort to haue a companion.

1620 T. SHELTON tr. Cervantes’ Don Quixote II. xiii. If that which is commonly spoken be true, that to haue companions in misery is a lightner of it, you may comfort me.

1775 T. GILBERT Letter 4 May in W. B. Clark et al. Naval Documents of American Revolution (1964) I. 279 All my Letters are inter septed by those Rebels who want Every one to be kept in Dark like themselves. (Misery Loves Company).

1851 H. D. THOREAU Journal 1 Sept. (1949) II. 440 If misery loves company, misery has company enough.

2002 Washington Post 21 Aug. F1 The question is how to salvage a difficult season. Refusing to open our depressing 401 (k) statements may work for a little while, but most of us need something more emotionally nourishing. (And besides, misery loves company.)

2005 J. VAN DE RUIT Spud (2006) 315 Fatty reckons that Geoff Lawson is suicidal because of Amanda and Emberton. I laughed loudly—misery loves company.