Jose-Antonio Maurellet has published the 70th and final installment of his Legal Tales column in the South China Morning Post [1].
The conclusion of the series highlights the necessity of frank disagreement and honest communication in an increasingly polarized global environment.
Maurellet used the final column to address a popular phrase often attributed to Oscar Wilde: “True friends stab you in the front?” [2]. The author said that this specific phrasing is a misattribution and sought to clarify the original sentiment expressed by the playwright.
According to the dossier, the actual sentiment comes from Wilde's 1888 work, "The Devoted Friend" [2]. In that text, Wilde wrote, “But what is the good of friendship if one cannot say exactly what one means? Anybody can say charming things and try to please and to flatter, but a true friend always says unpleasant things, and does not mind giving pain” [2].
Maurellet said that the ability to engage in honest, sometimes painful debate is a hallmark of true friendship and intellectual growth. He suggested that avoiding conflict through flattery does not serve the individuals involved or society at large.
The series has spanned 70 columns [1], providing legal insights and commentary within the Hong Kong publication. By ending the series on the topic of debate, Maurellet emphasized that correcting misconceptions—whether they are misattributed quotes or flawed legal arguments—is essential for clarity.
The author said that the value of friendship lies in the ability to be honest, even when that honesty is unpleasant.
““A true friend always says unpleasant things, and does not mind giving pain.””
The conclusion of the Legal Tales column reflects a broader cultural tension between social harmony and intellectual honesty. By correcting a misattributed quote to emphasize the value of 'unpleasant' truths, Maurellet suggests that the erosion of rigorous debate in favor of superficial agreement hinders both personal relationships and public discourse.
