“acquaintance, n.: A person whom we know well enough to borrow from, but not well enough to lend to.”
Quote Analysis
In this witty definition of "acquaintance" by Ambrose Bierce, the author cleverly highlights the delicate balance of familiarity and trust that exists in our relationships. By stating that an acquaintance is someone we know well enough to borrow from but not well enough to lend to, Bierce captures the essence of superficial connections where one party may not feel comfortable enough to fully extend their trust or resources. This definition humorously underscores the complexities and nuances of human relationships.
Modern Relevance:
In today's society, the concept of acquaintance relationships as described by Ambrose Bierce remains relevant. With the rise of social media and digital communication, we often have many acquaintances in our lives - people we are connected to in some way, but may not have a deep or personal relationship with. These acquaintances may be people we can rely on for small favors or assistance, but not necessarily someone we would feel comfortable lending money or valuables to. The distinction between acquaintances and close friends or family members is still important in navigating our social circles and understanding the dynamics of our relationships.
Examples of Usage
Here is a humorous quote from Ambrose Bierce defining the term "acquaintance":
"“acquaintance, n.: A person whom we know well enough to borrow from, but not well enough to lend to.” - Ambrose Bierce"
Reflection Questions
This quote by Ambrose Bierce humorously highlights the delicate balance of relationships we often find ourselves in. Take a moment to reflect on the following questions in relation to your own experiences:
- How do you decide who falls into the category of an "acquaintance" in your life?
- Have you ever felt uncomfortable asking to borrow something from someone because you didn't feel close enough to them?
- In what ways do your interactions with acquaintances differ from those with close friends or family members?
- How can you cultivate deeper relationships with acquaintances to move from transactional interactions to meaningful connections?
Similar quotes
“Acquaintance: "A person whom we know well enough to borrow from, but not well enough to lend to. A degree of friendship called slight when its object is poor or obscure, and intimate when he is rich or famous.”
“Know the hazards of lending and borrowing with friends.”
“For in tremendous extremities human souls are like drowning men; well enough they know they are in peril; well enough they know the causes of that peril;--nevertheless, the sea is the sea, and these drowning men do drown.”
“There are people from whom we secretly shrink, whom we would personally avoid, though reason confesses that they are good people: there are others with faults of temper, &c., evident enough, beside whom we live content, as if the air about them did us good.”
“And she knew Life well enough to know that if one person in a house gets really miserable for any length of time, the misery spreads like smallpox.”