Nothing but heaven itself is better than a friend who is really a friend.

The saying elevates genuine friendship to the highest rank among human goods: only “heaven itself” surpasses it. By stressing “really a friend,” it distinguishes true loyalty and steadfastness from fair‑weather companionship or relationships based on advantage. In Plautine comedy, where deception, bargaining, and shifting alliances often drive the plot, the ideal of a trustworthy friend stands out as a moral counterweight to self-interest. The hyperbolic comparison to heaven underscores both the rarity and the incomparable value of authentic friendship—something that provides security, counsel, and emotional refuge in a world of uncertainty.