There are three faithful friends - an old wife, an old dog, and ready money. — Benjamin Franklin

There are three faithful friends - an old wife, an old dog, and ready money.

Author: Benjamin Franklin

Insight: We tend to chase new things—newer partners, shinier opportunities, the latest version of whatever we already have. But this old saying captures something we learn mostly through loss: the people and resources that stick around through mundane Tuesdays and genuine crises are worth more than the exciting alternatives that capture our attention. The "old wife" part gets at something specific about long relationships. You're not impressing each other anymore, and that's exactly the point. There's no performance required, no need to be anyone but yourself. An old dog offers the same thing—pure, uncomplicated loyalty that doesn't depend on you being successful or interesting that day. And "ready money" isn't romantic, but it's honest: financial stability gives you options when life gets hard, which matters more than we admit when we're doing well. The slightly uncomfortable truth here is that we often take these steady things for granted while we're busy seeking novelty or validation elsewhere. The quote suggests that fidelity—whether it's in relationships, loyalty, or financial security—is its own kind of wealth. Not flashy, but the kind that actually holds you up when you need it.