He that is won with a nut may be lost with an apple

This is a caution against bought friends. If you seek to make friends by doing people favors they will not be sincere - just value you for what they can get out of you.

The best way to make friends is by being yourself and letting others see what they have in common with you. There might be a tactical short term value in sucking up to someone but long term they will be of little consequence. If you have a disagreeable personality it might be worth considering what your problem is and finding a fix. Having a few good friends is better than a lot of insincere ones.

If people only like you for what they can get they will quickly change allegiance when a better offer appears. In other words they will tell you what to do with your nuts.


Escape for a while from everyday reality with this verse adventure story from James Hogg abridged by William Clark.
Queen Hynde of Berigonium, Scotland by James Hogg & William Clark

The house is a fine house when good folks are within

The wealthy man in his mansion has a fine house to show off to his friends but are they true friends or just attracted to his wealth? Fair-weather friends are not there when you need them.

The poor man with his simple abode knows true happiness when genuine friends come to share his table and enjoy each other's company. The quality of the surroundings doesn't matter when the people are genuine. In times of need they help each other and are likely to know more of life's truest pleasures and satisfactions than the possessor of material riches.

Just as a fine instrument won't make a mediocre player better, or an expensive PC improve poor software, so a grand house won't necessarily provide the venue for good company and fellowship.

As a memorial to a fine man who was a friend to all the author of your blog wrote a tribute song "Ol' Jim (Magic in Them Feet)" now available as a digital download from iTunes and other stores.
Ol' Jim (Magic in Them Feet)

The full story of how a thrown away banknote led to this song can be read here:

The Story of the Song