A good friend can tell you what is the matter with you in a minute. He may not seem such a good friend after telling.

The saying distinguishes between pleasant companionship and genuine friendship. A “good friend” is defined not by constant agreement but by the willingness to deliver quick, accurate criticism—naming your faults or blind spots without delay. The second sentence acknowledges the emotional cost: once the truth is spoken, the friend may temporarily appear less “good” because honesty can feel like betrayal. Brisbane’s point is that discomfort is often the price of self-knowledge, and that the value of friendship lies in moral clarity and corrective candor rather than in soothing approval.