Neither a borrower nor a lender be, for loan oft loses both itself and friend.
In matters of moment, we should not so much strive to create opportunities as to profit by those that arise.[Dans les grandes affaires on doit moins s’appliquer à faire naître des occasions qu’à profiter de celles qui se présentent.]
If thou wilt lend this money, lend it not as to thy friends, for when did friendship take a breed for barren metal of his friend? But lend it rather to thine enemy, who if he break thou mayst with better face exact the penalty.
Do not spread the compost on the weeds to make them ranker.