Shun those who have corrupted you
Dialogues
A rational person should naturally distance themselves from anyone whose behavior toward them has changed, and whose intentions have become corrupt against them, after their past conduct was fraternal, friendly, and positive. Such harmful relationships entail considerable damage, and it is incumbent upon every person of sound mind to shun those whose character has deteriorated. Among the signs of this psychological corruption toward another, we mention the following:
- The glance of hatred: When the other person begins to look at you with the corner of their eye, out of disregard or anger (the glance), this is a clear sign of corruption in their heart toward you. Body language does not lie, and eye contact cannot be feigned. Therefore, shun them and leave them before it is too late.
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- Lack of communication, or its sudden cessation: Personal behaviors are optional. If a rational person realizes there is no personal reason justifying the reduced communication from someone who was previously in constant contact, this is a clear sign of a change in their heart. Shun those who begin to corrupt your peace of mind, and never ask them about the reason for their silence, as their outward appearance reveals their inner state.
- Your enemy’s friend is not your friend: Your true friend is one who befriends your friends and opposes your enemies, or at least ensures you do not see them accompanying your enemy. Anyone who openly associates or sits with your enemy was never your friend in the first place, and the intelligent person understands by a hint.
- They disappear suddenly when you need them: Someone who vanishes from your life abruptly without warning, especially when you sometimes need only moral support, and who does not later explain their absence or offer fabricated excuses, is not a friend, lover, or someone who cares for you. They are a different person from what you thought they were. Shun them, and may your hands be rubbed with dust (i.e., may you be left in peace).
- Shun those who ask you excessive personal questions: There is no harm in friends and loved ones occasionally sharing some of their news and private matters with each other to reassure one another. However, someone whose conversation with you consists mostly of intense questions that barely stop discussing your private life is not seeking to reassure you. Rather, their goal is either to exchange your private information with others or to ensure that you have not surpassed them in anything to date.
A Kuwaiti writer
