“Nothing is more dangerous than a foolish friend.”Baltasar Gracián · Oracolul manual · 1647 · Aforismul 12
A foolish friend is more dangerous than an enemy, because they act in good faith.
Gracián warns against unwise friendships. An enemy is predictable and we are on guard, but a foolish friend acts with good intentions, causing disasters. They may reveal a secret thinking they are helping or support a bad decision out of loyalty. A friend who encourages you to invest in a risky venture out of naive enthusiasm can ruin you.
Why it matters It helps us choose friends carefully and not confuse good intentions with wisdom.