If all misfortunes were laid in one common heap whence everyone must take an equal portion, most people would be contented to take their own and depart.

The saying expresses a psychological truth about comparative suffering: people often feel uniquely burdened until they imagine trading places with others. If misfortunes were pooled and redistributed equally, many would prefer to keep their familiar troubles rather than risk receiving worse ones. The line underscores how perspective and social comparison shape our sense of hardship, and it implicitly counsels gratitude and resilience—recognizing that one’s lot, while painful, may be more bearable than unknown alternatives. It also hints at the human tendency to overestimate the unfairness of one’s own situation, a theme consistent with moral-philosophical reflections associated with the Socratic tradition.