proverb · Words worth keeping
There is no better mirror than a best friend.
There is no better mirror than a best friend.
Historical period not yet established
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
The saying makes a best friend the finest mirror. It values a close companion’s perspective on oneself.
What the words are saying
The superlative presents an ideal rather than proof of accuracy. A useful application invites specific feedback while retaining other evidence and room for disagreement. Closeness does not make every comment true or respectful.
Everyday example
Someone considers a friend’s feedback and asks what examples support it.
When to use it
Use it to discuss welcome feedback with its limits retained.
What it does not mean
A close friend’s judgment is not automatically accurate or binding.
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 705; PDF page 101
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.