proverb · Words worth keeping
Old friends and old wine are best.
Old friends and old wine are best.
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
Long-established friendships may be especially valued because trust and shared experience have had time to develop. Appreciate that history without assuming that every old relationship is better than a new one.
Example
After moving house, someone makes time to call a long-standing friend who remembers why the move matters, while also getting to know new neighbours.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
Old wine provides a comparison for something valued after time has passed. Applied to friendship, the saying praises familiarity, accumulated memories and knowledge of one another’s character. An old friend may understand a situation without needing every background detail repeated. Age alone, however, does not establish a relationship’s quality. People can change, an old bond can become harmful and a new friendship can quickly become meaningful. The useful point is to appreciate the value of a sound history rather than turn duration into a reason to dismiss new connections or endure mistreatment.
When to use it
Use it to appreciate the trust and understanding in a healthy established friendship.
Keep in mind
Long duration does not guarantee a good relationship, and the wine comparison is not advice to drink alcohol.
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
- Culture
- English