Meaning & Analysis
Visiting friends occasionally is good, but overstaying or visiting too often risks wearing out your welcome.
Insights
Value of Moderation
The proverb highlights the importance of moderation in social interactions, suggesting that even positive relationships can suffer from overfamiliarity or excess.
Preserving Affection
It reflects the idea that a little absence helps maintain respect and pleasure in friendship, as constant presence can breed annoyance or ingratitude.
Historical Symbolism
Early modern sources and folk wisdom frequently caution against overstaying one’s welcome, equating friendship with hospitality and likening the over-frequent guest to a burden. Franklin and others echo the value of rarity in visits for sustaining affection.
Cultural Resonance
Variants of this saying are common worldwide, often reinforcing the maxim 'absence sharpens love.' The advice is both social etiquette and psychological insight.
Psychological Dimensions
The proverb addresses the subtle dynamics of boundaries in relationships: too much closeness can lead to irritation, while a measure of distance fosters appreciation and respect.
Rhetorical Devices
Parataxis
The proverb uses a string of clauses without conjunctions, mirroring the direct and practical nature of the advice.
Conditional Structure
The 'if...then...' phrasing creates a clear cause-and-effect relationship, making the wisdom easy to remember and apply.
Antithesis
By contrasting 'visit sometimes' with 'not stay long,' the proverb reinforces the principle of balance.
Transcription
Quotations
Such as desire to continue a friend, must not feed on him; or, tis better to visit a friend sometimes then to dwell with him euer.
Frequent resorting ill resented.
Stay no longer in your Friend's House than you are sure that you are welcome.
A constant Guest is never welcome.
Friendship increases by visiting Friends, but by visiting seldom.
Cross References
Related Proverbs
Original Scan
Used under CC BY-NC 3.0.