This Merina proverb highlights the importance of human relationships over material possessions. It teaches that it is better to suffer a financial loss than to lose a valuable friendship or relationship. In other words, money and possessions can be replaced, but genuine human connections are priceless and irreplaceable. An equivalent proverb in English would be: « A friend in need is a friend indeed », although this focuses more on the testing of true friendship rather than merely preserving it.