He that will have a perfect brother must resign himself to remain brotherless.

This saying is typically presented in English-language collections as an “Italian proverb,” reflecting a traditional, anonymous piece of folk wisdom rather than a remark traceable to a single speaker or event. It belongs to a broader European proverb tradition that cautions against perfectionism in close relationships—especially within family life, where intimacy makes flaws unavoidable. In proverb anthologies, it is usually offered as a standalone maxim (sometimes alongside similar sentiments about friends), suggesting it circulated as a common moral observation rather than as a line from a specific literary work or historical episode.

The proverb warns that insisting on flawless virtue in others leads to loneliness. “Perfect brother” stands for an ideal companion—loyal, generous, never irritating, never failing. The price of that demand is “brotherless”: if one cannot tolerate ordinary human shortcomings, one will reject real people in favor of an unattainable standard. The line thus advocates for patience, forgiveness, and realistic expectations in intimate bonds. It also implies a moral mirror: the seeker of perfection should remember their own imperfections and accept relationships as reciprocal, imperfect, and sustained by grace rather than by exacting judgment.