There is a fable from Aesop. The world-renowned philosopher Socrates was once building an extremely small house for himself. When passersby and neighbors saw the tiny house, they said to him, “Why is a man of your stature building such a small house? It’s no bigger than a box, and the rooms are too cramped.” The response Socrates gave them was: “My only wish is to have enough true friends to fill this small house.”

The core message is that true friends are rare, and a small house with a few genuine companions is better than a grand mansion filled with strangers or enemies. Though this story is ancient, it still reflects reality, perhaps even more so today, in an era where meeting and getting to know others has become incredibly easy. As people strive to reach the whole world and expand their social circles, they often drift away from authenticity.

It is true that in modern times, having a wide social network is considered an important factor for success. However, there is a world of difference between being recognized or known by many and having a select group of people who understand the parts of you that aren't for public display. It is the difference between five hundred people knowing where you work, and five people knowing the struggles you face at that job and empathizing with you.

We cannot expect everyone to deeply understand or empathize with our lives. This isn't necessarily the fault of others; studies suggest that a human can only maintain stable relationships with about 150 people at most. Think about it yourself: while struggling through your own life, it is impossible to give full attention to family, partners, colleagues, and friends all at once. What matters is maintaining those small communities of mutual understanding and shared feelings within that large crowd. These could be family members or select friends.

These narrow but deep social circles are often called an “inner circle.” Being mutual “true friends” with the people in your inner circle is a form of good fortune. Conversely, if one focuses only on superficial relationships and social media interactions, they may face life without a support system when trouble strikes.

Therefore, while it is right to expand your social horizons to keep up with the times, you must never forget the true friends in your deepest corner. You must also consistently put in the effort to maintain and build those bonds. Whether your house is small or large, isn't it best as long as it is filled with true friends?