Neither a Borrower nor a Lender be
Expansion of Ideas School & College Section.
One of the characters in a play by Shakespeare gives this advice to his son who is about to travel abroad: Neither a borrower nor a lender be. In other words, one should neither borrow money from others, nor should one lend money to others. Simply saying, one should be careful in money matters. When you give money to someone, you are sure to spoil relationships with the person because the person, in all likelihood, is not going to repay you the amount. Neither should you borrow. If you don’t have enough money, make do with what little you have, rather than spoiling your good reputation by borrowing money from someone.
The advice given by this proverb is full of practical wisdom. Money gets in the way of healthy relationships. So don’t let money spoil relationships. Give your friends your time, your advice, your practical help in their times of crisis. But don’t give them money. And expect the same treatment in return.
Difficult Words & Meanings:
- Abroad: In or to a foreign country or countries.
- Likelihood: The state or fact of something being likely; probability.
- Make do: To manage with whatever is available, even if it's not much or not ideal.
- Reputation: The general beliefs or opinions that are held about someone or something.
- Proverb: A short, well-known saying that expresses a general truth or piece of advice.
- Practical wisdom: Good judgment gained from experience that helps in making sensible decisions in everyday life.
- Crisis: A time of intense difficulty, trouble, or danger.