6 Quotes on Friendship to Make you Think

Sometimes we call people friends and they really aren’t. They’re people who take advantage of us to get something in return. Then, they’re not there when we need them. We find ways to justify this behavior because of the love we feel for them.

But proverbs and quotes on friendship can serve as a reminder to not let ourselves be so deluded.

Friends are a blessing, but you have to know how to differentiate between “friends” and “acquaintances”. Not everyone deserves our concern or our time. Being kind and generous with others is a wonderful quality, but we shouldn’t let people walk all over us.

A real friend will never give you that kind of headache. Sure, you may be annoyed by some of their behaviors. They may occasionally make you upset or start arguments. However, when you really need them, they will be there.

Rain or shine, even if there are better things to do, a true friend loves you and shows it. In the end, what matters are actions, not well-intentioned words.

We’ll leave you with 6 wonderful quotes on friendship to reflect on…

6 quotes on friendship that will make you really think

“He who looks for a friend without defects remains without friends.”

This Turkish proverb urges us to reflect on what we’re demanding from others in comparison with what we demand from ourselves.

Nobody is perfect, because we are all human. Like all people, we have flaws that our loved ones respect (and maybe even appreciate).

Rejecting a person because we don’t like their defects says a lot about our own self-esteem. If your friends are good, loyal, and noble, everything else should matter too much. Focus on the wonderful things they bring you and not their little defects.

“Friends multiply joys and divide grief.”

This one is from the famous philosopher Sir Francis Bacon. As he well knew, shared joys are twice as celebrated. The human being is a social animal, no matter how hard he tries to isolate himself. Therefore, tere is no better feeling than being understood and supported by friends in the good and the bad.

Happiness is enjoyed twice over, while the impact of sadness is minimized by friendship. A good friend will always know when to lend an ear or make you laugh.

“Friends are like good books: it’s not important there be a lot, but that they be good.”

Quotes on friendship are often of anonymous origin, like this one. Many people measure their personal worth according to the number of friends they have. However, this is a mistake.

Quantity is not the same as quality. Remember, real friends can be counted on the fingers of one hand.

Those who brag about having friends all over the world are often not really friends with anyone. With a real friend, you don’t have to pretend to be who you aren’t, because there you have a special connection.

“A false friend is like a shadow that follows us when the sun shines.”

Italian writer Carlo Dosis warns us about those who call themselves friends but in reality are not. They’re only with you when life is going well. When the world is smiling on you. They only care about you because of your influence on others, not because they really want your friendship.

Don’t worry if at first you find it hard to distinguish true friends from false ones. When you’re going through hard times, you’ll notice the absence of certain “friends” or their lack of concern. Value the friends that stick around, not the ones who have disappointed you. 

“Move away from the friend for whom you represent a means and not an end.”

This advice from Ramón y Cajal is very good advice. If you notice someone is using you, stay away from them. You do not deserve people like that in your life. A real friend will always be honest with you and will never use you only for his own benefit.

If you don’t want to discuss this or provoke a confrontation with the person, it’s best to gradually distance yourself. Do it subtly and, if they ask for explanations, give them explanations. Unlike him, you will at least be honest.

“If you want to form a judgement about someone, see who their friends are.”

The French writer and theologian Fenelon is the architect of this phrase. It’s one of the most accurate quotes on friendship, wouldn’t you agree? If you want to know what someone is like, watch the people they choose to spend time with. Usually, friendships say a lot about a person’s values and character.

In friendship, it’s true that sometimes we make mistakes. However, advice like we find in these quotes on friendship can go a very long way.

Friends are the family one chooses, so taking care of them is of the utmost importance.