"Sin duda merecía a mis enemigos, pero no creo que mereciera a mis amigos."
— Walt Whitman
Simplified Meaning:
Sometimes, people feel like they have made mistakes that lead to having enemies or people who dislike them. They understand why these enemies exist because they feel they have done something wrong. On the other hand, they might feel unworthy of the good friends they have because they don't see what they have done to deserve such kindness and support. Imagine someone who often made bad choices and hurt others, making a lot of people angry at them. They might think, "I get why people don't like me." But if they have friends who still stand by them despite their faults, they might feel puzzled and grateful, wondering, "Why do these people still care about me?" This shows how someone can be more critical of themselves and value the kindness of friends even more. To put this idea into practice, one can focus on being a better friend to others, appreciating the good people in their life, and trying to understand and fix the mistakes that might have led to their enemies.