proverb · Legacy record
Speak well of your friend, and do not speak of your enemy.
Speak well of your friend, and do not speak of your enemy.
Historical period not yet established
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
Speaking well of a friend and not speaking of an enemy recommends care in what is said about relationships. The saying gives loyalty and restraint a conversational form.
What the words are saying
A critical reading does not require false praise, concealment of harm or silence about an important disagreement. A useful application avoids unsupported attacks while keeping honest criticism and necessary reporting possible. Friendly and hostile labels do not determine whether a claim is accurate.
Everyday example
Someone avoids a personal attack while reporting a substantiated concern clearly.
When to use it
Use it to encourage fair speech without concealing harm.
Put a useful idea into practice: try the free seven-day guide ↗
What it does not mean
No duty to praise falsely or suppress legitimate concerns is established.
Agent-assisted editorial interpretation. This explains the words; it does not by itself verify their author or earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
Italy
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin.- Historical period
- Historical period not yet established
No sufficiently supported historical placement has been established. Import and download dates are not treated as composition dates. - Recorded source
- Contributor-provided wisdom reference (2014 AD)
Supplied reference B; unit 863; PDF page 76; collection label: Italy
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.
- Culture
- Italy