ProverbHuman Nature
Latin origin
Latin originA friend in need is a friend indeed
Meaning: True friends show their worth during difficult times.
Origin: The Roman poet Ennius wrote, as Cicero quotes him, that a sure friend is known in an unsure time — amicus certus in re incerta cernitur. The idea is recorded in English from the 11th century, and the rhyming form became standard later.
Equivalents in French, Spanish, German, Italian, Dutch, and 4 more languages
French: C'est dans le besoin qu'on reconnaît ses amis (literally: It's in need that we recognize our friends)
Spanish: En la necesidad se conoce al amigo (literally: In need, the friend is known)
German: Freunde in der Not gehen tausend auf ein Lot (literally: Friends in need — a thousand of them go to one lot (tiny weight))
Italian: Gli amici si conoscono nel bisogno (literally: Friends are known in times of need)
Dutch: In nood leert men zijn vrienden kennen (literally: In need you get to know your friends)
Russian: Друг познаётся в беде (Drug poznayotsya v bede) (literally: A friend is known in trouble)
Polish: Prawdziwych przyjaciół poznaje się w biedzie (literally: True friends are known in hardship)
Arabic: الصديق وقت الضيق (Aṣ-ṣadīq waqt aḍ-ḍīq) (literally: A friend is for times of hardship)
Turkish: Dost kara günde belli olur (literally: A friend shows on a black day)
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