proverb · Words worth keeping
The friend that can be bought is not worth buying.
The friend that can be bought is not worth buying.
Historical period not yet established
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
A purchasable friend called not worth buying rejects affection treated as a commodity. The saying questions loyalty claimed through payment.
What the words are saying
A responsible reading does not make every gift, paid service or financial exchange incompatible with genuine friendship. A useful application considers mutual respect and freedom rather than treating money as ownership. People receiving support should not be presumed insincere or obligated to provide affection.
Everyday example
Someone gives freely without treating the gift as a right to another person’s loyalty.
When to use it
Use it to distinguish friendship from purchased entitlement.
What it does not mean
No insincerity inferred from receiving support or ownership through gifts 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
Ireland
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 840; PDF page 74; collection label: Ireland
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.
- Culture
- Ireland