Friends and Acquaintances are not the Same Thing

Remember to make a great difference between companions and friends. Lord Chesterfield

There is a tremendous difference between a true friend and an ordinary companion. In today’s society, the word “friend” is used so loosely and freely that it has really lost its true meaning.

When most people use the term “friend” today, they mean no more than someone with whom they are vaguely familiar, an acquaintance if you will. Although this may simply be arguing over semantics, most people do not really realize the difference and in reality do not have the “friends” that they believe they have.

An acquaintance is simply someone who you are familiar with or who you have actually met. Your intimate knowledge of this person is very limited, as is their intimate knowledge of you (hopefully). Your acquaintances are nothing more than your social contacts.

Most know little more than your name or recognize your face when they see you, although some may be a bit closer and even reach the level of being your “buddy.” True friends are much more than a simple acquaintance.

A true friend is someone you know that you can trust with the intimate details of your life, if you so choose. This is a person who cares as much about you and your circumstances as he does his own.

He is there for you when the chips are down and your back is against the wall. You can trust him completely and he knows that he can put the same trust in you. This relationship goes much deeper than that of a buddy or companion, and is very rare. Don’t assume that you have numerous friends — you don’t. Bohdi Sanders ~ excerpt from Defensive Living: The Other Side of Self-Defense available on Amazon at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009EF7U8M. Signed copies are available from https://thewisdomwarrior.com.