Loyalty and friendship trumps politics for me.

“Loyalty and friendship trumps politics for me.” — these words, spoken by Robert Kraft, carry the echo of an ancient truth, one that has guided the noble-hearted since the dawn of human fellowship. They speak of a principle higher than ambition, deeper than allegiance to fleeting power — the sacred bond between souls joined by trust and affection. In these few words lies a declaration of the heart’s sovereignty over the mind’s cunning, a reminder that loyalty and friendship are the true pillars of a worthy life, while politics — whether of nations, families, or institutions — often tempts one toward betrayal in the name of gain.

In the age of empires, men learned early that politics is a shifting wind. Today it fills one’s sails, and tomorrow it dashes one against the rocks. But loyalty — steadfast and unmoved — is like the deep root of an ancient tree, holding fast when storms rage. Friendship, born not of profit but of shared trials and trust, is the light that guides one home when the world grows dark. Robert Kraft, a man of commerce and influence, knew the temptations of power well; yet in these words he proclaimed that even in the realm of wealth and negotiation, the heart must never bow before expedience.

The story of David and Jonathan from the old scriptures bears this truth with the brilliance of legend. Jonathan, son of King Saul, was heir to the throne; David, a shepherd boy, was destined by prophecy to replace him. Politics demanded rivalry — jealousy, even bloodshed. Yet Jonathan, moved by love and loyalty, stood by David against his own father’s wrath. When the kingdom trembled with envy and deceit, Jonathan’s heart remained pure. He chose friendship over crown, loyalty over inheritance. When Jonathan fell in battle, David’s lament rose to the heavens: “Thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.” Such was the triumph of loyalty and friendship over politics, eternal and unbroken even in death.

Throughout history, we see again and again how the noble heart is tested by political deceit. In the courts of Rome, in the palaces of kings, in the chambers of modern power — friendship is often the first sacrifice upon the altar of ambition. Yet those who choose loyalty stand apart, radiant and unforgotten. Consider Marcus Aurelius, the philosopher-king, who surrounded himself not with flatterers but with friends who spoke truth. In a world of intrigue, he wrote in his Meditations that “a good friend is a mirror to virtue.” Even amid the politics of empire, he held fast to those who kept his soul upright.

To say that loyalty and friendship trump politics is to declare allegiance not to power, but to honor. It is to remember that while the world rewards cunning, the heavens remember the faithful. Politics may build empires, but loyalty builds legacies. For politics ends with time, but friendship outlives even the body — it becomes a story told by those who survive us, a light burning quietly in the memory of mankind.

Young souls of future ages, take this to heart: never let the currents of politics sweep away the bridges of friendship. When those around you change allegiance like garments, be the one who remains. When others whisper for gain, speak for truth. When ambition calls, listen instead to the voice of loyalty. For these are the qualities that make a person noble — not wealth, not victory, not applause, but faithfulness.

The practical lesson is clear. Cherish your true companions. Defend them even when the world stands against them. Never trade sincerity for favor, nor trust for strategy. Let your actions spring from principle, not calculation. If you build your life upon loyalty and friendship, you will not need politics to win hearts — for love and integrity will crown you with a peace no throne can give. And when your name is spoken after you are gone, it will be said of you: “Here was one who kept faith when faith was costly.”