Не имей сто рублей, а имей сто друзей
Ne imey sto rubley, a imey sto druzey
Literal translation
"Do not have a hundred rubles, but have a hundred friends"
English equivalent
"Social capital and loyal connections are more valuable than money."
What does it mean?
A friend in court is better than a penny in purse
When to use
Не переживай из-за денег, не имей сто рублей, а имей сто друзей!
Example in use
Russian
Don't worry about the money, a friend in court is better than a penny in purse!
Translation
Use this to console someone facing financial loss or to emphasize the importance of networking.
Origin
Social collectivism
Full history & cultural context
This proverb highlights the Russian cultural emphasis on community. Historically, in times of famine or fire, a single person could not survive alone. "Sto rubley" (a hundred rubles) was a significant but finite amount, whereas a hundred friends represented an infinite safety net.
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