Friends and True Friends

There are three very convenient categories of friends- the parasites, the admirers, and the real friends.

The parasites are selfish. They like us for our wealth. They will stick to us as long as they can benefit from our money. Once our money is exhausted or we refuse to be swindled, they will part company with us, and even go to the extent of harming us. Such friends should be avoided as far as possible. Their advice should not be followed blindly. We should not let them know our secrets; they might exploit them to our disadvantage.

The admirers are not selfish; nor are they selfless devotees. They gathered round those people who are masters of one art or another. Usually, good talkers attract a large number of such friends. They have no interest in one, beyond listening to one’s stories. Let us say that they are good for the simple reason that they are not bad. They can provide very good company, but students should refuse to entertain them during their study hours. It was about such time that Bacon once said, “Friends are thieves of time.”

Real friends are hard to find. They are tested and proved in time of need, just as good soldiers are tested and proved on the field of battle. Their words are not so sweet as those of parasites and admirers. They never flatter; they mean to help their friends rather than to flatter them. Of all the people they will be the quickest to point out our faults and shortcomings. Their criticism and advice should be gratefully accepted. No sacrifice should be considered too great to be made for real friends, for lucky is a person who has a real friend.