82.2 Evil Friendship

82.2 Evil Friendship

Question:

What is a friendship of utility? Is it an evil friendship?

                       

Answer:

People who calculate how much they can gain from a friendship

are like prostitutes and thieves.                                                         (Couplet – 813)

What does it matter if one keeps or loses the friendship

 of those who are friendly when there is something to

gain and desert when there is nothing to gain?                                 (Couplet – 812)

 

உறுவது சீர்தூக்கும் நட்பும் பெறுவது

கொள்வாரும் கள்வரும் நேர்.                                                                (குறள்- 813)

உறின்நட்டு அறின்ஒரூஉம் ஒப்பிலார் கேண்மை

பெறினும் இழப்பினும் என்?                                                                    (குறள் – 812)

 

Explanation:

As Aristotle points out, some people are friends for the sake of utility. They want to be friends with others only for the sake of the benefits they obtain or expect to obtain from their friends. In Couplet 813, Valluvar says that those who are engaged in the friendship of utility are like prostitutes and thieves because they are only after the benefits they can obtain from the friendship. So, in Couplet 812, Valluvar asks, “What does it matter whether one keeps or loses the friendship of utility.” Since Couplets 812 and 813 are included in the Chapter on Evil Friendship (Chapter 82 ), it should be noted that  Valluvar considers the friendship of utility evil.