proverb · Words worth keeping
He that counts his friend’s mistakes will be abandoned by him
He that counts his friend’s mistakes will be abandoned by him
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
Counting a friend’s mistakes is pictured as risking the friendship. The saying criticises a relationship reduced to a tally of faults.
Example
Two friends address a current concern directly instead of treating every past error as a point to win an argument.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
The predicted abandonment is not inevitable, and discussing harm is not the same as hostile scorekeeping. A useful interpretation can value proportionate attention, repair and boundaries without requiring someone to overlook repeated wrongdoing. The source’s missing final punctuation is retained.
When to use it
Use it to discuss scorekeeping with legitimate accountability retained.
Keep in mind
No guaranteed abandonment or duty to ignore a friend’s harmful conduct is established.
An interpretation of the words, not a claim about their earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- Date unknown