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The friendship between gentlemen is plain like water, and therefore enduring.
A proverb from the Zhuangzi, meaning that true, wise friendships are not flashy or overly emotional but are calm, pure, and lasting, like water.
「君子の交わりは淡きこと水のごとし」という言葉は、真の友情はあっさりしているものだと教えている。
The saying 'The friendship between gentlemen is plain like water' teaches that true friendship is unpretentious.
From the Chinese classic Zhuangzi (荘子). The phrase contrasts the pure, lasting friendship of virtuous people with the cloying, self-interested relationships of lesser men.