Love and lordship never like friendship.
Meaning: Romantic or hierarchical power dynamics fundamentally corrupt the equality that genuine friendship requires.
Origin: Recorded in A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases, an undated collection published in London by Whittaker & Co. around 1880 and credited to Thomas Preston. Its earlier history hasn't been traced.
More proverbs about Perseverance
- A full purse never lacketh friends. — Wealth attracts companions, but their loyalty evaporates when money disappears.
- Many things grow in the garden that were never planted there. — Unexpected consequences and benefits arise from life's circumstances beyond our initial i…
- To give and keep there is need of wit. — Generosity requires discernment about when and how much to give without depleting your ow…
- God sends meat, and the devil sends cooks. — Abundance means nothing without the wisdom to use it well; poor execution ruins good fort…
- One God, no more; but friends good store. — Loyalty to one supreme authority prevents conflict, while cultivating many friendships cr…
- No man knows better what good is than he that has an endured evil. — Suffering teaches appreciation; adversity reveals the true value of comfort and peace.
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