Friendship is the only thing in the world concerning the usefulness of which all mankind are agreed.
Marcus Tullius CiceroRead
The man who backbites an absent friend, nay, who does not stand up for him when another blames him, the man who angles for bursts of laughter and for the repute of a wit, who can invent what he never saw, who cannot keep a secret -- that man is black at heart: mark and avoid him.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote warns against trusting those who gossip, betray, or do not defend their friends.
Cicero emphasizes the importance of loyalty and integrity in friendships, highlighting that individuals who engage in gossip or fail to support their friends when criticized are untrustworthy and should be avoided. The character of a person is measured by their actions toward others, especially when those individuals are not present to defend themselves, and true friends stand firm against disparagement.
Themes
LoyaltyFriendshipGossipBetrayalIntegrity
In practice
Example use cases
Use this quote in a speech about the qualities of true friendship.
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