Friendship: quality over quantity

I'm currently studying in Japan, and I've met a lot of people. So far, I've met two “toxic” people: one from Taiwan and one from mainland China. Some people really have “toxic” written all over their faces. They disregard rules, think they're always right, have no sense of boundaries when they speak, and are blinded by self-interest. And they especially love trying to get close to you. They say whatever they want behind your back, going way beyond joking around or talking shit. To your face, they laugh and joke with you, but they're full of malice and contempt. Their remarks drip with sarcasm, yet they think nobody notices. They put an arm around your shoulder just because you speak Chinese. Then, when you realize they're toxic and try to distance yourself, they spread all kinds of rumors. Nothing limits what they'll say. Every word out of their mouths is a lie, and their story changes every few days. Years ago, I really would make friends with anyone and try to maintain those relationships. I thought people who sounded like hotshots were impressive, that they were important connections in my life. Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong! Don't misunderstand what “connections” means. Most high-quality connections are usually especially hard to reach. They're not loudmouths who act like they're hot shit. They're low-key people with solid capabilities. Once you treat someone who “seems like a hotshot” as a key connection, your next step is into the abyss. I don't have that much life experience, but if you ask me, you don't need many friends. One friend who brings something positive into your life is enough. On the other hand, one toxic friend can drag you into a ditch. Don't assume having lots of friends is a good thing. With friends, you want “quality,” not “quantity.” Just one bad, toxic friend can destroy your life. This is not alarmism. To this day, I still don't understand why anyone envies “having lots of friends.” Most people will never help you at any point in your life, and even more will hurt you. The friends who can truly help, on the other hand, are busy with their own lives. You may barely interact with them normally, and they may not even care about you. Yet often, these are the people who step in just once, at the most important moment of your life, and help you onto an important path.