friends, explain, believe, enemies
Never explain - your friends do not need it and your enemies will not believe you anyway.
Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down.
There is some self-interest behind every friendship. There is no friendship without self-interests. This is a bitter truth.
self interest, bitter truth, friendship
Silences make the real conversations between friends. Not the saying but the never needing to say is what counts.
I don't need a friend who changes when I change and who nods when I nod my shadow does that much better.