---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Invite your friend to a feast, but leave…"
description: "\"Invite your friend to a feast, but leave your enemy alone; and especially invite the one who lives near you.\" — Hesiod"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e58/hesiod-2889_enemy_invite-your-friend-to-a-feast-but-leave_2908457.jpg"
---

#  Invite your friend to a feast, but leave your enemy alone…

![“Invite your friend to a feast, but leave your enemy alone; and especially invite the one who lives near you.” quote by Hesiod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e58/hesiod-2889_enemy_invite-your-friend-to-a-feast-but-leave_2908457.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e58/hesiod-2889_enemy_invite-your-friend-to-a-feast-but-leave_2908457.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e58/hesiod-2889_enemy_invite-your-friend-to-a-feast-but-leave_2908457.jpg)

> “Invite your friend to a feast, but leave your enemy alone; and especially invite the one who lives near you.”

[Hesiod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Encourage hospitality to friends and neighbors while keeping distance from enemies, especially those nearby.

**In simple terms:** Be friendly to allies, cautious with foes.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate community bonds, avoid unnecessary conflict.

Themes

hospitality social dynamics strategic relationships

Mood

thoughtful pragmatic

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

- family gatherings
- neighborhood events
- conflict avoidance
- neighborly support

Key Concepts

Greek ethics social reciprocity

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you balance openness with caution?
- When is it safe to trust a neighbor?

A Different Perspective

May overlook broader diplomatic nuances.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Especially Invite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/especially-invite-4174382/) [Friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friend/) [Friend Feast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friend-feast-4174381/) [Friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friends/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Hospitality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hospitality/) [Invite Friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invite-friend-2399760/) [Invite Lives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invite-lives-4174383/) [Invites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invites/) [Leave Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leave-enemy-1660092/)

## Related quotes

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> [It hurts to watch a Friend leave as an Enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/it-hurts-to-watch-a-friend-leave-as-an-enemy/)

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> [The leader builds dispersed and diverse leadership - distributing leadership to the outermost edges of the circle to unleash the power of shared responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hesselbein/the-leader-builds-dispersed-and-diverse-leadership-distributing/)

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## More by Hesiod

> [Gain not base gains; base gains are the same as losses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/gain-not-base-gains-base-gains-are-the-same-as-losses/)

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> [The best is he who calls men to the best. And those who heed the call are also blessed. But worthless who call not,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/the-best-is-he-who-calls-men-to-the-best-and-those-who-heed-the-call/)

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> [If you speak evil, you will soon be worse spoken of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/if-you-speak-evil-you-will-soon-be-worse-spoken-of/)

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> [Preserve the mean; the opportune moment is best in all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/preserve-the-mean-the-opportune-moment-is-best-in-all-things/)

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## More Enemy quotes

> [Shall there be truth between us, as two men? Not as friends, but as enemies and equals?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/shall-there-be-truth-between-us-as-two-men-not-as-friends-but-as/)

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