Question

‘Tell me who your friends are and I shall tell you who you are’. How will you explain this statement in the light of Jimmy’s and Bob’s friendship?

Answer 1

We can’t fully agree with the statement “Tell me who your friends are and I shall tell you who you are”. This adage may be applicable to those friends who behave like “birds of the same feather” and involve in any activity with a common purpose. But this does not apply to those who live by different value systems personal and professional ethics. In this story, Bob and Jimmy Wells had been lifetime friends. Jimmy Wells became, guardian of peace but Bob becomes a criminal wanted by Chicago police, Very often we tend to regard “a friend” as a lifetime companion. A friend is one with who we need not conceal our real physical or psychological problems.

One does not wear a mask in front of a friend. A friend usually rushes to help another unsought in times of trouble. All these impressions are relevant only to those who travel the same path of virtue and socially accepted norms and cultural expectations. But a childhood friend who has chosen the evil path to make money is ‘long lost. friend’ with whom one may not like to continue the friendship. So, proverbs need to be taken with a pinch of salt. They may not be relevant on all occasions or apply to all always.