God send me a friend that may tell me my faults; if not, an enemy, he will be sure to.

Understand the thought

Meaning in plain English

Honest criticism can help you notice faults that praise conceals. A friend’s considered feedback is preferable to learning only from someone hostile, but neither source is automatically accurate.

What the words are saying

The saying wishes for a friend willing to name a fault, then notes that an enemy is likely to do so. Its focus is the difficulty of receiving a correction from people who want to remain agreeable. The religious form of the wish is part of the preserved wording, not evidence of a promised response. An enemy may exaggerate or invent a criticism, and a friend may misunderstand. The useful lesson is to welcome relevant feedback while checking its substance. A criticism is more helpful when it identifies a particular action and possible change instead of merely attacking the person.

Everyday example

A contributor asks a trusted reader to point out unclear passages before publication, while checking rather than automatically accepting a hostile comment about the same draft.

When to use it

Use it when agreeable responses are leaving no room for useful correction.

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Agent-assisted editorial interpretation. This explains the words; it does not by itself verify their author or earliest origin.