Make not thy friend too cheap to thee, nor thyself to thy friend.
Meaning: Maintain mutual respect in friendship by valuing both your friend's worth and your own dignity equally.
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
- Love and lordship never like friendship. — Romantic or hierarchical power dynamics fundamentally corrupt the equality that genuine f…
- 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…
From our idioms
- erstunken und erlogen — entirely false or made up; a complete lie or fabrication.
- mit allem Drum und Dran — complete with all the accessories, extras, or associated details; entirely and comprehens…
- jemandem nicht das Wasser reichen können — To be vastly inferior to someone in ability or quality.