There is almost a touch of condescension in the act of hiring friends that secretly afflicts them. The injury will come out slowly: A little more honesty, flashes of resentment and envy here and there, and before you know it your friendship fades. The more favors and gifts you supply to revive the friendship, the less gratitude you receive.

we do our friends no favors by pretending not to notice flaws in their work, especially when those who are not their friends are bound to notice these same flaws.

It is natural to want to employ your friends when you find yourself in times of need. The world is a harsh place, and your friends soften the harshness. Besides, you know them. Why depend on a stranger when you have a friend at hand? Men are more ready to repay an injury than a benefit, because gratitude is a burden and revenge a pleasure. TACITUS, c. A.D. 55-120 The problem is that you often do not know your friends as well as you imagine. Friends often agree on things in order to avoid an argument. They cover up their unpleasant qualities so as to not offend each other. They laugh extra hard at each other’s jokes. Since honesty rarely strengthens friendship, you may never know how a friend truly feels. Friends will say that they love your poetry, adore your music, envy your taste in clothes — maybe they mean it, often they do not. When you decide to hire a friend, you gradually discover the qualities he or she has kept hidden. Strangely enough, it is your act of kindness that unbalances everything. People want to feel they deserve their good fortune. The receipt of a favor can become oppressive: It means you have been chosen because you are a friend, not necessarily because you are deserving. There is almost a touch of condescension in the act of hiring friends that secretly afflicts them. The injury will come out slowly: A little more honesty, flashes of resentment and envy here and there, and before you know it your friendship fades. The more favors and gifts you supply to revive the friendship, the less gratitude you receive. Ingratitude has a long and deep history. It has demonstrated its powers for so many centuries, that it is truly amazing that people continue to underestimate them. Better to be wary. If you never expect gratitude from a friend, you will be pleasantly surprised when they do prove grateful. The problem with using or hiring friends is that it will inevitably limit your power. The friend is rarely the one who is most able to help you; and in t

Pero cuando se nos pide una opinión, no hacemos ningún favor a nuestros amigos fingiendo no apreciar defectos en su trabajo, en especial cuando quienes no son sus amigos están obligados a reparar en esos mismos defectos.

Sometimes a friend isn’t a friend. Sometimes a friend is a bad thing waiting to happen. You need to get some time to yourself. When you feel the need to bolt — bolt. Most of this shit you work out on your own anyway. You know what I’m talking about.

If you can’t fire your best friend or your brother, don’t hire them.

It starts when you begin to overlook good manners. Any time you quit hearing Sir and Mam the end is pretty much in sight...

[Y]ou shouldn't cut your old friends now that you have risen in the world. That's what we call snobbery.

others is required, it probably indicates a lack of courtesy — that is, a lack of manners.

Two persons cannot long be friends if they cannot forgive each other's little failings.

"You can't be nobody's frien' an' slave both."
"How come, Pappy?"
"'Cause friend's don't own one 'nother."

Are you a slave? Then you cannot be a friend. Are you a tyrant? Then you cannot have friends.

Leave my friends alone!” she said. “This is between you and me, Mother!

Misfortune shows those who are not really friends.