In this quote from Saints for All Occasions, the speaker compares marriage to a three-legged race shared with the same partner for life. This analogy emphasizes the close, intertwined nature of a marriage where both individuals are bound together, moving in harmony despite their differences. It highlights the idea that the happiness, luck, and emotional states of each person are connected and affect the marriage as a whole.
The quote suggests that lasting relationships require constant cooperation and balancing, much like a physical race where both partners must work in sync. It acknowledges the challenges of sharing one's life intimately, where one's fortunes and feelings are not entirely separate but are experienced and influenced jointly with the other person.