False pretense: you have to have experienced a bad apple in order to appreciate a good apple...

A person can appreciate a good apple simple because it's different than a non apple.

If I am eating a peanut butter sandwich, and I bite into an apple, that is not bad, I can appreciate what that apple brings to the meal.

The juiciness compared to the peanut butter sandwich.

The sweetness of that juice, pairing with the peanut butter and the bread.

Even a not so good apple, can improve the sandwich.

I don't need bad things to happen to me in order to appreciate life.

I appreciate life when my life is normal and boring.

I hate life when I have to deal with bad apples.

Right now I am dealing with the bad apple of a treacherous wife.

I appreciated every day I had with my wife, and my children, I didn't need her treachery to help me appreciate her any more.

In fact, her treacherous behavior has now ruined, not only the life I am living now, but it has also ruined the fond memories I had that I used to appreciate.

You can keep your false pretenses.