“I am of opinion that all exclusive intimacies are to be avoided; for man takes in vice far more readily than virtue. And he who would be friends with God must remain alone, or make the whole world his friend.”
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Source: Gandhi, 'The Story of My Experiments with Truth' (autobiography, 1927), chapter on friendship.
About this quote
We soak up bad habits faster than good ones, so a tight, closed circle can quietly drag you toward its worst tendencies. Staying open — friendly to everyone rather than fused to a chosen few — guards your character and keeps you from mistaking loyalty for a cage.
When to use it
- A teenager who ties himself to one clique starts copying their skipping and shoplifting within a term.
- A new hire who befriends only the office cynics absorbs their gripes until the whole job feels sour.
- Someone who keeps one all-consuming friendship notices they've dropped every other person who mattered.