---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is often said that in prosperity we…"
description: "\"It is often said that in prosperity we have many friends, but that we are usually neglected when things go badly. I disagree. Not only do malicious peo..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d6/andre-maurois-3217_accounts_it-is-often-said-that-in-prosperity-we-h_274520.jpg"
---

#  It is often said that in prosperity we have many friends…

![“It is often said that in prosperity we have many friends, but that we are usually neglected when things go badly. I disagree. Not only do malicious people flock about us in order to witness our ruin, but other unfortunates as well, who have been kept away by our happiness, and now feel close to us…” quote by Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d6/andre-maurois-3217_accounts_it-is-often-said-that-in-prosperity-we-h_274520.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d6/andre-maurois-3217_accounts_it-is-often-said-that-in-prosperity-we-h_274520.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d6/andre-maurois-3217_accounts_it-is-often-said-that-in-prosperity-we-h_274520.jpg)

> “It is often said that in prosperity we have many friends, but that we are usually neglected when things go badly. I disagree. Not only do malicious people flock about us in order to witness our ruin, but other unfortunates as well, who have been kept away by our happiness, and now feel close to us on account of our troubles.”

[Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The author argues that both friends and rivals appear when one is successful, while true support often emerges only in hardship.

**In simple terms:** Success attracts both allies and enemies; real support shows in tough times.

Key Takeaway

Value those who stand by you in adversity.

Themes

friendship success human nature

Mood

thoughtful cautious

Type

observational philosophical

When to use this quote

- career advancement
- personal crises
- public life

Key Concepts

social dynamics envy solidarity

Questions to Reflect On

- Who truly supports you when you struggle?
- Do you maintain relationships despite changing fortunes?

A Different Perspective

Hardship may also reveal hidden opportunists.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Prosperity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prosperity/) [Ruins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruins/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/)

## Related quotes

> [“We were weirdos, Fiona and I. Creative minds like ours were the minds of aliens. And the soul-suckers, the plagiarists, the malicious people like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-starmer/we-were-weirdos-fiona-and-i-creative-minds-like-ours-were-the-minds/)

[Aaron Starmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-starmer/)

> [In time of prosperity friends will be plenty; In time of adversity not one in twenty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howell/in-time-of-prosperity-friends-will-be-plenty-in-time-of-adversity-not/)

[James Howell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howell/)

> [Real friendship is shown in times of trouble; prosperity is full of friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/real-friendship-is-shown-in-times-of-trouble-prosperity-is-full-of/)

[Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/)

> [Prosperity has many friends, even adversity has a few friends, but originality practicing the reality of altruistic humanity in life has only true friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anuj-somany/prosperity-has-many-friends-even-adversity-has-a-few-friends-but-2/)

[Anuj Somany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anuj-somany/)

> [Prosperity has many friends, even adversity has a few friends, but originality practising the reality of altruistic humanity in life has a scarce of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anuj-somany/prosperity-has-many-friends-even-adversity-has-a-few-friends-but/)

[Anuj Somany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anuj-somany/)

> [Real friendship is shown in times of trouble; prosperity is always full of friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/real-friendship-is-shown-in-times-of-trouble-prosperity-is-always/)

[Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/)

> [Prosperity is full of friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/prosperity-is-full-of-friends/)

[Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/)

> [In prosperity our friends know us; in adversity we know our friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-churton-collins/in-prosperity-our-friends-know-us-in-adversity-we-know-our-friends/)

[John Churton Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-churton-collins/)

> [“The less you associate with some people, the more your life will improve. Any time you tolerate mediocrity in others, it increases your mediocrity.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/the-less-you-associate-with-some-people-the-more-your-life-will-2/)

[Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/)

> [My friends ... they usually rib me about how I just sleep in and watch Oprah and that I don't really have a proper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/my-friends-they-usually-rib-me-about-how-i-just-sleep-in-and-watch/)

[Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/)

> [I love making friends. I usually prefer to make them out of plaster and give them funny looking hats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-love-making-friends-i-usually-prefer-to-make-them-out-of-plaster/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Don’t you have any friends you could hand with?” – Nick “I do. But the problem is when I hang out with my friends,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/don-t-you-have-any-friends-you-could-hand-with-nick-i-do-but-the/)

[Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/)

> [It goes without saying that your friends are usually the first to discuss your personal business behind your back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mcmillan/it-goes-without-saying-that-your-friends-are-usually-the-first-to/)

[Terry McMillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mcmillan/)

> [“Cath wasn’t trying to make new friends here. In some cases, she was actively trying not to make friends, though she usually stopped short…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/cath-wasn-t-trying-to-make-new-friends-here-in-some-cases-she-was/)

[Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/)

> [I understand why people want to look up their friends - usually they want to see what people they've wanted to have sex with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/i-understand-why-people-want-to-look-up-their-friends-usually-they/)

[John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/)

## More by Andre Maurois

> [Style is the outcome of constraint.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/style-is-the-outcome-of-constraint/)

[Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/)

> [To reason with poorly chosen words is like using a pair of scales with inaccurate weights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/to-reason-with-poorly-chosen-words-is-like-using-a-pair-of-scales/)

[Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/)

> [No one can be profoundly original who does not avoid eccentricity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/no-one-can-be-profoundly-original-who-does-not-avoid-eccentricity/)

[Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/)

> [It is not events and the things one sees and enjoys that produce happiness, but a state of mind which can endow events with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/it-is-not-events-and-the-things-one-sees-and-enjoys-that-produce/)

[Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/)

> [One has very little influence upon one's children. Their characters are what they are and one can do nothing to change them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/one-has-very-little-influence-upon-one-s-children-their-characters/)

[Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/)

> [The art of growing old is the art of being regarded by the oncoming generations as a support and not as a stumbling-block...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/the-art-of-growing-old-is-the-art-of-being-regarded-by-the-oncoming/)

[Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/)

> [“O mare dragoste nu este de ajuns pentru a lega de tine fiinta pe care o iubesti, daca nu te pricepi sa umpli viata…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/o-mare-dragoste-nu-este-de-ajuns-pentru-a-lega-de-tine-fiinta-pe-care/)

[André Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/)

> [Sincerity is glass, discretion is diamond.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/sincerity-is-glass-discretion-is-diamond/)

[Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/)

> [“Old age is far more than white hair, wrinkles, the feeling that it is too late and the game is finished, that the stage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/old-age-is-far-more-than-white-hair-wrinkles-the-feeling-that-it-is/)

[Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/)

> [Modesty and unselfishness - these are the virtues which men praise - and pass by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/modesty-and-unselfishness-these-are-the-virtues-which-men-praise-and/)

[Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/)

> [Inspiration in matters of taste will not come twice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/inspiration-in-matters-of-taste-will-not-come-twice/)

[Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/)

> [The reading of a fine book is an uninterrupted dialogue in which the book speaks and our soul replies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/the-reading-of-a-fine-book-is-an-uninterrupted-dialogue-in-which-the/)

[Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/)

> [“Doua fiinte umane ancorate una langa cealalta sunt ca doua corabii leganate de valuri; cocile lor se ciocnesc si gem.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/doua-fiinte-umane-ancorate-una-langa-cealalta-sunt-ca-doua-corabii/)

[André Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/)

> [Among the idle rich, boredom is one of the most common causes of unhappiness. People who have difficulty in earning their living may suffer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/among-the-idle-rich-boredom-is-one-of-the-most-common-causes-of/)

[Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/)

> [Medicine is a very old joke, but it still goes on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/medicine-is-a-very-old-joke-but-it-still-goes-on/)

[Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/)

[Explore all 128 Andre Maurois quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/)

## More Accounts quotes

> [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/)

[Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/)

> [Think of these things, whence you came, where you are going, and to whom you must account.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/think-of-these-things-whence-you-came-where-you-are-going-and-to-whom/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [There is nothing that we can properly call our own but our time, and yet everybody fools us out of it who has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/there-is-nothing-that-we-can-properly-call-our-own-but-our-time-and/)

[Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/)

> [The Hindus have a peculiar slovenliness in business matters, not being sufficiently methodical and strict in keeping accounts etc.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/the-hindus-have-a-peculiar-slovenliness-in-business-matters-not-being/)

[Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/)

> [With the Truman book, I wrote the entire account of his experiences in World War I before going over to Europe to follow his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/with-the-truman-book-i-wrote-the-entire-account-of-his-experiences-in/)

[David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/)

> [A great read; an exciting, frightening account of organized crime today. But like all important works of nonfiction, it goes further… This book is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/le-ly-hayslip/a-great-read-an-exciting-frightening-account-of-organized-crime-today/)

[Le Ly Hayslip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/le-ly-hayslip/)

> [I had a very blessed journey with the upbringing I had. When you're working on sets as a stuntman, you have a firsthand account…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ric-roman-waugh/i-had-a-very-blessed-journey-with-the-upbringing-i-had-when-you-re/)

[Ric Roman Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ric-roman-waugh/)

> [The suppression of uncomfortable ideas may be common in religion or in politics, but it is not the path to knowledge; it has no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/the-suppression-of-uncomfortable-ideas-may-be-common-in-religion-or/)

[Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/)

> [You've got to exercise. Your health account, your bank account, they're the same thing. The more you put in, the more you can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-lalanne/you-ve-got-to-exercise-your-health-account-your-bank-account-they-re/)

[Jack LaLanne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-lalanne/)

> [No physiologist who calmly considers the question in connection with the general truths of his science, can long resist the conviction that different parts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/no-physiologist-who-calmly-considers-the-question-in-connection-with/)

[Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/)

> [God puts you where God needs you. You are where you are supposed to be. The job you are doing may not be any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-kushner/god-puts-you-where-god-needs-you-you-are-where-you-are-supposed-to-be/)

[Lawrence Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-kushner/)

> [Stop trying to treat music like it's a tennis shoe, something to be branded. If the music industry wants to save money, they should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-tweedy/stop-trying-to-treat-music-like-it-s-a-tennis-shoe-something-to-be/)

[Jeff Tweedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-tweedy/)

> [Anyone who thinks science is trying to make human life easier or more pleasant is utterly mistaken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/anyone-who-thinks-science-is-trying-to-make-human-life-easier-or-more/)

[Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/)

> [That surely must be a concern to anyone who decides this drug must be given to stop transmissions, again from mother to child, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thabo-mbeki/that-surely-must-be-a-concern-to-anyone-who-decides-this-drug-must-be/)

[Thabo Mbeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thabo-mbeki/)

Browse all 2,677 Accounts quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "It is often said that in prosperity we have many friends, but that we are usually neglected when things go badly. I disagree. Not only do malicious people flock about us in order to witness our ruin, but other unfortunates as well, who have been kept away by our happiness, and now feel close to us on account of our troubles.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Andre Maurois"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/it-is-often-said-that-in-prosperity-we-have-many-friends-but-that-we/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Accounts"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/it-is-often-said-that-in-prosperity-we-have-many-friends-but-that-we/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d6/andre-maurois-3217_accounts_it-is-often-said-that-in-prosperity-we-h_274520.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d6/andre-maurois-3217_accounts_it-is-often-said-that-in-prosperity-we-h_274520.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d6/andre-maurois-3217_accounts_it-is-often-said-that-in-prosperity-we-h_274520.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It is often said that in prosperity we have many friends, but that we are usually neglected when things go…” — Andre Maurois",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Andre Maurois",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "It is often said that in...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/it-is-often-said-that-in-prosperity-we-have-many-friends-but-that-we/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/it-is-often-said-that-in-prosperity-we-have-many-friends-but-that-we/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
