Thirukkural Chapter 82 - Evil Friendship

Couplet 811 
Though evil men should all-absorbing friendship show,
Their love had better die away than grow
Explanation
The decrease of friendship with those who look as if they would eat you up (through excess of love) while they are really destitute of goodness is far better than its increase

Couplet 812 
What though you gain or lose friendship of men of alien heart,
Who when you thrive are friends, and when you fail depart
Explanation
Of what avail is it to get or lose the friendship of those who love when there is gain and leave when there is none ?

Couplet 813 
These are alike: the friends who ponder friendship's gain
Those who accept whate'er you give, and all the plundering train
Explanation
Friendship who calculate the profits (of their friendship), prostitutes who are bent on obtaining their gains, and thieves are (all) of the same character

Couplet 814 
A steed untrained will leave you in the tug of war;
Than friends like that to dwell alone is better far
Explanation
Solitude is more to be desired than the society of those who resemble the untrained horses which throw down (their riders) in the fields of battle

Couplet 815 
'Tis better not to gain than gain the friendship profitless
Of men of little minds, who succour fails when dangers press
Explanation
It is far better to avoid that to contract the evil friendship of the base who cannot protect (their friends) even when appointed to do so

Couplet 816 
Better ten million times incur the wise man's hate,
Than form with foolish men a friendship intimate
Explanation
The hatred of the wise is ten-million times more profitable than the excessive intimacy of the fool

Couplet 817 
From foes ten million fold a greater good you gain,
Than friendship yields that's formed with laughers vain
Explanation
What comes from enemies is a hundred million times more profitable than what comes from the friendship of those who cause only laughter

Couplet 818 
Those men who make a grievous toil of what they do
On your behalf, their friendship silently eschew
Explanation
Gradually abandon without revealing (beforehand) the friendship of those who pretend inability to carry out what they (really) could do.

Couplet 819 
E'en in a dream the intercourse is bitterness
With men whose deeds are other than their words profess
Explanation
The friendship of those whose actions do not agree with their words will distress (one) even in (one's) dreams

Couplet 820 
In anywise maintain not intercourse with those,
Who in the house are friends, in hall are slandering foes
Explanation
Avoid even the least approach to a contraction of friendship with those who would love you in private but ridicule you in public