proverb · Words worth keeping
The rich knows not who is his friend.
The rich knows not who is his friend.
Historical period not yet established
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
The saying makes a wealthy person uncertain who their friend is. It questions whether goodwill is directed at the person or their resources.
What the words are saying
The broad claim depicts a trust concern rather than establishing anyone’s motive. A careful application considers dependable conduct without treating every companion of a wealthy person as opportunistic. Money does not make genuine friendship impossible.
Everyday example
Someone considers how a relationship works across different circumstances instead of assuming a motive from wealth alone.
When to use it
Use it to discuss a possible trust concern with motives unverified.
What it does not mean
Wealth does not prove false friendship or prevent knowing a dependable friend.
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
- Not established
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 proverb reference
Supplied reference A; unit 690; PDF page 99
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.