Slow Havamal: 43

The 43rd verse warn us that while we should always be friendly to the friend of a friend, we should never become friends with his enemy.

George Washington’s admonition to avoid entangling alliances seems appropriate to this verse. If we’ve taken the trouble to get to know someone, to build a relationship, and we find that person praiseworthy as a friend, it stands to reason that a new acquaintance who he considers a friend will have some merit. There are exceptions. I’m sure we all have a friend whose buddy we think is an idiot. But for the most part, those we appreciate have similar tastes. That said, we don’t have to adore the second-order friend, or even establish a primary relationship. What Havamal suggests is that we simply demonstrate friendly behavior. This is a courtesy to our own friend. I may not want to hang out with the new person but I’ll treat him with the same regard I give my friend, because if I’m a jerk, I put my friend in the awkward position of having to answer for my behavior. It reflects badly on him, just as it will if the other person treats me badly. ( Read more... )