# LXXXIII: False Friendship explained — The Kural

> Chapter companion for The Kural by Thiruvalluvar.

## What happens

This chapter warns against false friends who feign friendship while harboring enmity, advising caution and strategic feigned friendship when open rupture is not possible.

## Themes in this chapter

### Social Harmony and Ethics

The chapter emphasizes ethical discernment in social relationships, warning against hypocritical friendships that disrupt harmony.

## Character check-ins

### the Kural

The text of the Kural itself delivers the teachings on false friendship.

## Key lines

> The friendship that an enemy pretendeth is only an anvil whereon to hammer thee when he seeth his opportunity.

An enemy's pretended friendship is merely a tool to harm you when the chance arises.

_Opening couplet setting the theme of deceptive enmity._

> Fear thou the hypocritical ruffians that smile to the face but nurse their spite within their bosom.

Beware of hypocrites who smile outwardly but harbor resentment inside.

_Warning against those who conceal malice behind a friendly facade._

> Trust not an enemy though he bendeth low in his speech: for the bending of the bow forebodeth nothing but harm.

Do not trust an enemy even if he speaks humbly, as a bent bow only portends harm.

_Metaphor comparing humble speech to a drawn bow, ready to strike._

> When thou canst not yet break openly with thy foe, feign friendship to his face but keep him off from thy heart.

If you cannot openly break with your enemy, pretend friendship outwardly but keep him at a distance inwardly.

_Final couplet advising strategic dissimulation when open conflict is unwise._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_kural_se/chapters/lxxxiii-false-friendship
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_kural_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_kural_se/chapters