Blood is thicker than water

Proverbial Meaning: Family should always come before anything else, families are more important than friends.

Literal Origins: The substance of blood is thicker than water. One connects one’s own blood with that of other family members and there exists an unbreakable bond that spans the distances across oceans; i.e. no matter how far you travel across the seas, the blood ties with your family are stronger (thicker) than the substance of the water that separates you.

Common Usage: This is a very well known proverb that is used regularly between family members, usually to remind them of the importance of family over other, often more pleasant, engagements with non-family members.