Adam Clarke Commentary - Proverbs 14:20 - 14:20

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Adam Clarke Commentary - Proverbs 14:20 - 14:20


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But the rich hath many friends - Many who speak to him the language of friendship; but if they profess friendship because he is rich, there is not one real friend among them. There is a fine saying of Cicero on this subject: Ut hirundines festivo tempore praesto sunt, frigore pulsae recedunt: ita falsi amici sereno tempore praesto sunt: simul atque fortunae hiemem viderint, evolant omnes - Lib. iv., ad Herenn. “They are like swallows, who fly off during the winter, and quit our cold climates; and do not return till the warm season: but as soon as the winter sets in, they are all off again.” So Horace: -

Donec eris felix, multos numerabis amicos:

Nullus ad amissas ibit amicus opes.

“As long as thou art prosperous, thou shalt have many friends: but who of them will regard thee when thou hast lost thy wealth?”