It's easy to help someone who's already successful—they don't need you. The real test of friendship is showing up when someone is at their lowest, with no benefit to yourself. True kindness is rare and precious.
This saying highlights the Chinese distinction between 'adding glory' and 'providing relief.' It's often used to praise those who help in hard times and criticize fair-weather friends.
This saying contrasts easy, superficial support with the rare, valuable help given during hard times. It signals that true friendship is tested in adversity, and that most people prefer to celebrate success rather than share burdens. Chinese people use it to express gratitude toward loyal friends and to lament the fickleness of fair-weather acquaintances.
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