“ There are people who owe more to bitter enemies than to apparently pleasant friends ”
Marcus Tullius Cicero, On Friendship (44 BC). copy citation
Author | Marcus Tullius Cicero |
---|---|
Source | On Friendship |
Topic | enemies |
Date | 44 BC |
Language | English |
Reference | |
Note | Translated by E. S. Shuckburgh |
Weblink | http://www.gutenberg.org/files/2808/2808-h/2808-h.htm |
Context
“But if a man's ears are so closed to plain speaking that he cannot bear to hear the truth from a friend, we may give him up in despair. This remark of Cato's, as so many of his did, shews great acuteness: "There are people who owe more to bitter enemies than to apparently pleasant friends: the former often speak the truth, the latter never." Besides, it is a strange paradox that the recipients of advice should feel no annoyance where they ought to feel it, and yet feel so much where they ought not.”
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