--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Shake hands, we shall never be friends…" description: "\"“Shake hands, we shall never be friends; give over: I only vex you the more I try. All's wrong that ever I've done and said, And nought to help it in t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/995/a-e-housman-2-12514_born-to-die_shake-hands-we-shall-never-be-friends-gi_2255576.jpg" --- # Shake hands, we shall never be friends; give over: I only… ![“Shake hands, we shall never be friends; give over: I only vex you the more I try. All's wrong that ever I've done and said, And nought to help it in this dull head: Shake hands, goodnight, goodbye. But if you come to a road where danger Or guilt or anguish or shame's to share, Be good to the lad…” quote by A.E. Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/995/a-e-housman-2-12514_born-to-die_shake-hands-we-shall-never-be-friends-gi_2255576.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/995/a-e-housman-2-12514_born-to-die_shake-hands-we-shall-never-be-friends-gi_2255576.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/995/a-e-housman-2-12514_born-to-die_shake-hands-we-shall-never-be-friends-gi_2255576.jpg) > ““Shake hands, we shall never be friends; give over: I only vex you the more I try. All's wrong that ever I've done and said, And nought to help it in this dull head: Shake hands, goodnight, goodbye. But if you come to a road where danger Or guilt or anguish or shame's to share, Be good to the lad that loves you true And the soul that was born to die for you, And whistle and I'll be there.”” [A.E. Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-e-housman-2/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A conflicted speaker expresses frustration and resignation, yet offers loyalty and support in times of hardship **In simple terms:** Feeling conflicted but supportive in difficult times Key Takeaway Offer steadfast support despite personal turmoil Themes conflict loyalty existential Mood melancholic reflective Type poetic emotional When to use this quote - relationship counseling - personal crises - support groups - conflict resolution Key Concepts friendship guilt self‑criticism Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance personal doubts with supporting others? - What does loyalty mean when we feel inadequate? A Different Perspective Tone may seem melodramatic or overly poetic ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Born to die](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/born-to-die/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) ## Related quotes > [How long shall we be friends? Do you want a clue? 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It can change my bad mood to a good one,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r/a-simple-hello-goodnight-goodbye-can-suddenly-change-my-mood-and-put/) R > [Goodnight, sleep tight No more tears in the morning I'll be here and when we say goodnight, dry your eyes because we said goodnight,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-merrow/goodnight-sleep-tight-no-more-tears-in-the-morning-i-ll-be-here-and/) [James Merrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-merrow/) > [“What are you worrying about? You are born to die anyway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saurbh-katyal/what-are-you-worrying-about-you-are-born-to-die-anyway/) [Saurbh Katyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saurbh-katyal/) > [Because the truth is - and we know it - we were born to die without regrets. Regret is the only wound from which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-ban-breathnach/because-the-truth-is-and-we-know-it-we-were-born-to-die-without/) [Sarah Ban Breathnach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-ban-breathnach/) > [A mass of dust, world's momentary slave, Is man, in state of our old Adam made, Soon born to die, soon flourishing to fade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barnabe-barnes/a-mass-of-dust-world-s-momentary-slave-is-man-in-state-of-our-old/) Barnabe Barnes > [The best thing for a man to do is to be born and, being born, to die at once.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-aretino/the-best-thing-for-a-man-to-do-is-to-be-born-and-being-born-to-die-at/) [Pietro Aretino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pietro-aretino/) > [Wisdom views with an indifferent eye all finite joys, all blessings born to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/wisdom-views-with-an-indifferent-eye-all-finite-joys-all-blessings/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) ## More by A.E. 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Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-e-housman-2/) > [“Oh on my breast in days hereafter Light the earth should lie, Such weight to bear is now the air, So heavy hangs the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-e-housman-2/oh-on-my-breast-in-days-hereafter-light-the-earth-should-lie-such/) [A.E. Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-e-housman-2/) > [“Oh many a peer of England brews Livelier liquor than the Muse, And malt does more than Milton can To justify God’s ways to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-e-housman-2/oh-many-a-peer-of-england-brews-livelier-liquor-than-the-muse-and/) [A.E. Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-e-housman-2/) > [“In my own shire, if I was sad Homely comforters I had: The earth, because my heart was sore, Sorrowed for the son she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-e-housman-2/in-my-own-shire-if-i-was-sad-homely-comforters-i-had-the-earth/) [A.E. Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-e-housman-2/) > [“If it chance your eye offends you, Pluck it out lad, and be sound: 'Twill hurt, but here are salves to friend you, And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-e-housman-2/if-it-chance-your-eye-offends-you-pluck-it-out-lad-and-be-sound-twill/) [A.E. Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-e-housman-2/) > [“They say my verse is sad: no wonder. Its narrow measure spans Rue for eternity, and sorrow Not mine, but man's This is for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-e-housman-2/they-say-my-verse-is-sad-no-wonder-its-narrow-measure-spans-rue-for/) [A.E. Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-e-housman-2/) > [“Diffugere Nives Horace, Odes, iv, 7 The snows are fled away, leaves on the shaws And grasses in the mead renew their birth, The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-e-housman-2/diffugere-nives-horace-odes-iv-7-the-snows-are-fled-away-leaves-on/) [A.E. Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-e-housman-2/) > [“The time you won your town the race We chaired you through the market-place; Man and boy stood cheering by, And home we brought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-e-housman-2/the-time-you-won-your-town-the-race-we-chaired-you-through-the-market/) [A.E. Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-e-housman-2/) > [“Along the field as we came by A year ago, my love and I, The aspen over stile and stone Was talking to itself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-e-housman-2/along-the-field-as-we-came-by-a-year-ago-my-love-and-i-the-aspen-over/) [A.E. Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-e-housman-2/) > [“Knowledge is good, method is good, but one thing beyond all others is necessary; and that is to have a head, not a pumpkin,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-e-housman-2/knowledge-is-good-method-is-good-but-one-thing-beyond-all-others-is/) [A.E. Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-e-housman-2/) > [“It nods and curtseys and recovers When the wind blows above, The nettle on the graves of lovers That hanged themselves for love. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-e-housman-2/it-nods-and-curtseys-and-recovers-when-the-wind-blows-above-the/) [A.E. Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-e-housman-2/) > [“Oh fair enough are sky and plain, But I know fairer far: Those are as beautiful again That in the water are; The pools…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-e-housman-2/oh-fair-enough-are-sky-and-plain-but-i-know-fairer-far-those-are-as/) [A.E. Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-e-housman-2/) > [“Iniquity it is; but pass the can. My lad, no pair of kings our mothers bore; Our only portion is the estate of man:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-e-housman-2/iniquity-it-is-but-pass-the-can-my-lad-no-pair-of-kings-our-mothers/) [A.E. Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-e-housman-2/) [Explore all 54 A.E. Housman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-e-housman-2/) ## More Born to die quotes > [Wisdom views with an indifferent eye all finite joys, all blessings born to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/wisdom-views-with-an-indifferent-eye-all-finite-joys-all-blessings/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [The best thing for a man to do is to be born and, being born, to die at once.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-aretino/the-best-thing-for-a-man-to-do-is-to-be-born-and-being-born-to-die-at/) [Pietro Aretino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pietro-aretino/) > [A mass of dust, world's momentary slave, Is man, in state of our old Adam made, Soon born to die, soon flourishing to fade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barnabe-barnes/a-mass-of-dust-world-s-momentary-slave-is-man-in-state-of-our-old/) Barnabe Barnes > [Because the truth is - and we know it - we were born to die without regrets. Regret is the only wound from which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-ban-breathnach/because-the-truth-is-and-we-know-it-we-were-born-to-die-without/) [Sarah Ban Breathnach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-ban-breathnach/) > [“What are you worrying about? You are born to die anyway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saurbh-katyal/what-are-you-worrying-about-you-are-born-to-die-anyway/) [Saurbh Katyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saurbh-katyal/) > [“Every night I used to pray that I’d find my people, and finally I did on the open road. We had nothing to lose,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lana-del-rey/every-night-i-used-to-pray-that-i-d-find-my-people-and-finally-i-did/) [Lana Del Rey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lana-del-rey/) > [I we are born to die and we all die to live, then what's the point of living life if it just contradicts?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-we-are-born-to-die-and-we-all-die-to-live-then-what-s-the-point-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Your best enemy is the right person who has willingly born to die for you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-s-jagadeesh-kumar/your-best-enemy-is-the-right-person-who-has-willingly-born-to-die-for/) [P.S. Jagadeesh Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-s-jagadeesh-kumar/) > [Long time a child, and still a child, when years Had painted manhood on my cheek, was I; For yet I lived like one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hartley-coleridge/long-time-a-child-and-still-a-child-when-years-had-painted-manhood-on/) [Hartley Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hartley-coleridge/) > [Who are you? Are in touch with all of your darkest fantasies? Have you created a life for yourself, where you can experience them?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lana-del-rey/who-are-you-are-in-touch-with-all-of-your-darkest-fantasies-have-you/) [Lana Del Rey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lana-del-rey/) > [“I'm not afraid of death. We are all born to die. It's the fact that we spend our whole life running from. The inevitable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-ghazi/i-m-not-afraid-of-death-we-are-all-born-to-die-it-s-the-fact-that-we/) Mohamed Ghazi > [I seem to be the only person in the world who doesn't mind being pitied. If you love me, pity me. The human state…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessamyn-west/i-seem-to-be-the-only-person-in-the-world-who-doesn-t-mind-being/) [Jessamyn West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessamyn-west/) > [We were born to die; we were born to endure, on the way to death, sorrow-sorrow in manifold shapes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-ozick/we-were-born-to-die-we-were-born-to-endure-on-the-way-to-death-sorrow/) [Cynthia Ozick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-ozick/) > [“Why not stop trying to prevent posterity being silent about you? You were born to die, and a silent funeral is less bothersome.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/why-not-stop-trying-to-prevent-posterity-being-silent-about-you-you/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [We are born to love as we are born to die, and between the heartbeats of these two great mysteries lies all the tangled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-farrington/we-are-born-to-love-as-we-are-born-to-die-and-between-the-heartbeats/) [Tim Farrington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-farrington/) [Browse all 64 Born to die quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/born-to-die/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Shake hands, we shall never be friends; give over: I only vex you the more I try. All's wrong that ever I've done and said, And nought to help it in this dull head: Shake hands, goodnight, goodbye. 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