A friend looks at your face. An enemy looks at your feet.

What it means

A friend looks you in the eye and sees who you are. An enemy watches for the stumble. You can learn a lot about people from what they keep their eyes on.

The source

"A friend looks at your face. An enemy looks at your feet." This Turkish proverb is recorded in Turkish Proverbs Translated into English (S. Lazarus, Venice, 1880). Translated by Mekhitarist translators (S. Lazarus, Venice), 1880.

"The friend looks at the head, the enemy at the foot."

Mekhitarist translators (S. Lazarus, Venice), 1880, Turkish Proverbs Translated into English (S. Lazarus, Venice, 1880). Text read at archive.org.

Who said it

Proverbs of the world (Every age). Sayings from the Latin, Greek, Norse, Japanese, Chinese and more, each traced to an old source in its own language.

Questions

What does "A friend looks at your face. An enemy looks at your feet." mean?

A friend looks you in the eye and sees who you are. An enemy watches for the stumble. You can learn a lot about people from what they keep their eyes on.

Who said "A friend looks at your face. An enemy looks at your feet."?

Turkish proverb. Source: Turkish Proverbs Translated into English (S. Lazarus, Venice, 1880).

What is the original wording?

The friend looks at the head, the enemy at the foot (Mekhitarist translators (S. Lazarus, Venice), 1880). Translated by Mekhitarist translators (S. Lazarus, Venice), 1880.

Is "A friend looks at your face. An enemy looks at your feet." on a shirt?

Yes. We print it to order on our tees in 7 illustrated looks, from $44, with free US shipping.

"A friend looks at your face. An enemy looks at your feet." (Turkish proverb, Turkish Proverbs Translated into English (S. Lazarus, Venice, 1880), trans. Mekhitarist translators (S. Lazarus, Venice), 1880). https://spartansurfers.com/quotes/a-friend-looks-at-your-face-an-enemy