proverb · Words worth keeping
Still stand by kin Through thick and thin.
Still stand by kin Through thick and thin.
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
The saying urges loyalty to family through both easy and difficult circumstances. A careful reading supports dependable care without making kinship a reason to conceal wrongdoing, accept harm or deny someone’s boundaries.
Example
A relative helps someone prepare an apology after a disagreement instead of excusing their conduct or cutting off all conversation.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
Thick and thin give the relationship a range of circumstances rather than limiting support to convenient occasions. A useful reading values staying in touch, listening or offering practical help when a relative faces difficulty. What support requires still depends on the situation and on what each person can freely offer. Standing by someone can include honest disagreement or encouraging them to repair a mistake. It need not mean taking their side in every dispute. The saying expresses an ideal of family loyalty, not a guarantee about every family or an obligation to remain available where a relationship causes harm.
When to use it
Use it when appreciating support that continues through a difficult period.
Keep in mind
Loyalty does not require concealing harm or abandoning boundaries; circumstances and capacity matter.
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