We flatter those we scarcely know, We please the fleeting guest, And deal full many a thoughtless blow To those who love us best.

Wilcox contrasts social polish with private carelessness: we often reserve our best manners for acquaintances and “fleeting” visitors, while speaking sharply or acting thoughtlessly toward the people closest to us. The verse points to a common moral blind spot—taking intimate relationships for granted because they feel secure. Its significance lies in reversing the usual hierarchy of courtesy: the poem implies that love and familiarity should warrant greater tenderness, not less. Read as domestic counsel, it urges self-scrutiny about everyday speech and small acts, suggesting that the deepest harms are often unintentional and inflicted at home, where words land with the most weight.