---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are two kinds of friends: Those who…"
description: "\"There are two kinds of friends: Those who are around when you need them and those who are around when they need you.\" — Anonymous"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ae/anonymous-1_friend_there-are-two-kinds-of-friends-those-who_466205.jpg"
---

#  There are two kinds of friends: Those who are around when…

![“There are two kinds of friends: Those who are around when you need them and those who are around when they need you.” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ae/anonymous-1_friend_there-are-two-kinds-of-friends-those-who_466205.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ae/anonymous-1_friend_there-are-two-kinds-of-friends-those-who_466205.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ae/anonymous-1_friend_there-are-two-kinds-of-friends-those-who_466205.jpg)

> “There are two kinds of friends: Those who are around when you need them and those who are around when they need you.”

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

## About This Quote

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

True friendship is measured by mutual support, not selfish convenience.

**In simple terms:** Friends help each other, not just themselves.

Key Takeaway

Seek reciprocal support.

Themes

friendship loyalty reciprocity

Mood

thoughtful warm

Type

inspirational philosophical

When to use this quote

- crisis
- everyday life
- team projects
- mentorship

Key Concepts

ethical philosophy social psychology

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you identify genuine friends?
- What actions show reciprocal care?

A Different Perspective

Self‑interest can masquerade as friendship.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friend/) [Friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friends/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Kinds of friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kinds-of-friends/)

## Related quotes

> [Talk with your daughters, Play with your sons. You need to be a better friend to them than anyone else. This society offers lots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nouman-ali-khan/talk-with-your-daughters-play-with-your-sons-you-need-to-be-a-better/)

[Nouman Ali Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nouman-ali-khan/)

> [There are all kinds of friends you make in life... But there's something different about someone who spreads their wings with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/there-are-all-kinds-of-friends-you-make-in-life-but-there-s-something/)

[Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/)

> [I have three kinds of friends: those who love me, those who pay no attention to me, and those who detest me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-have-three-kinds-of-friends-those-who-love-me-those-who-pay-no/)

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

> [Now, the term 'friend' is a little loose. People mock the 'friending' on social media, and say, 'Gosh, no one could have 300 friends!'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/now-the-term-friend-is-a-little-loose-people-mock-the-friending-on/)

[Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/)

> [There are three kinds of friends in the world. An ordinary person sees only who you are; for that you don't need a friend.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shlomo-carlebach/there-are-three-kinds-of-friends-in-the-world-an-ordinary-person-sees/)

[Shlomo Carlebach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shlomo-carlebach/)

> [“No matter who you are, you need two kinds of friends in your life. The first kind is one you can call when something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/no-matter-who-you-are-you-need-two-kinds-of-friends-in-your-life-the-2/)

[Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/)

> [“People offer many complex reasons for why Bill rates so highly. In my experience it’s pretty simple. No matter who you are, you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/people-offer-many-complex-reasons-for-why-bill-rates-so-highly-in-my/)

[Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/)

> [“No matter who you are, you need two kinds of friends in your life. The first kind is one you can call when something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/no-matter-who-you-are-you-need-two-kinds-of-friends-in-your-life-the/)

[Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/)

> [A mirror reflects a man's face, but what he is really like is shown by the kind of friends he chooses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-mirror-reflects-a-man-s-face-but-what-he-is-really-like-is-shown-by/)

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

> [Best Friends - Always there for you whenever you need them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/best-friends-always-there-for-you-whenever-you-need-them/)

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

> [Never explain. Your friends do not need it and your enemies will not believe it anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-explain-your-friends-do-not-need-it-and-your-enemies-will-not-2/)

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

> [Dont let friends down when they need you the most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dont-let-friends-down-when-they-need-you-the-most/)

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

> [It's wisest always to be so clad that our friends need not ask us for our names.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-wisest-always-to-be-so-clad-that-our-friends-need-not-ask-us-for/)

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

> [So called friends when they need you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/so-called-friends-when-they-need-you/)

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

> [People's lives change. To keep all your old friends is like keeping all your old clothes--pretty soon your closet is so jammed and everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-s-lives-change-to-keep-all-your-old-friends-is-like-keeping/)

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

## More by Anonymous

> [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/)

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

> [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/)

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

> [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/)

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

> [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/)

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

> [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/)

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

> [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/)

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

> [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/)

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

> [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/)

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

> [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/)

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

> [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/)

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

> [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/)

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

> [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/)

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

> [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/)

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

> [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/)

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

> [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/)

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

[Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## More Friend quotes

> [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/)

[Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/)

> [I gave my archive to Emory University because there's a really dear friend who teaches there, Rudolph Byrd, and he's the editor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/i-gave-my-archive-to-emory-university-because-there-s-a-really-dear/)

[Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/)

> [Friends are like stars you can't always see them, but you know they're there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unknwon/friends-are-like-stars-you-can-t-always-see-them-but-you-know-they-re/)

Unknwon

> [“But my best friend from college was silent for a long time. She, of all of my friends, had seen the parade of sad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-groff/but-my-best-friend-from-college-was-silent-for-a-long-time-she-of-all/)

[Lauren Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-groff/)

> [“way. A true friend isn't the one that agrees with everything you say or do. A true friend is someone that has your back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shameek-speight/way-a-true-friend-isn-t-the-one-that-agrees-with-everything-you-say/)

[Shameek Speight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shameek-speight/)

> [No one is completely unhappy at the failure of his best friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/no-one-is-completely-unhappy-at-the-failure-of-his-best-friend/)

[Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/)

> [“The real purpose of friendship was to discover and exploit weakness in others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-thompson/the-real-purpose-of-friendship-was-to-discover-and-exploit-weakness/)

[Brian Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-thompson/)

> [That FRIEND who claim they do anything for you. but yet talk behind your back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kushsoulja/that-friend-who-claim-they-do-anything-for-you-but-yet-talk-behind/)

KushSoulja

> [In life, we never lose friends we only get to know who the true ones are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ace-kid/in-life-we-never-lose-friends-we-only-get-to-know-who-the-true-ones/)

[Ace Kid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ace-kid/)

> [“Before you were my enemy, you were my best friend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/before-you-were-my-enemy-you-were-my-best-friend/)

[Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/)

> [Sam dropped me off. When she was too far away to see me, I started to cry again. Because she was my friend again.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/sam-dropped-me-off-when-she-was-too-far-away-to-see-me-i-started-to/)

[Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/)

> [“When you get lost in a really strange place, nothing is more comforting than found your friend whom you trust and can show the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/when-you-get-lost-in-a-really-strange-place-nothing-is-more/)

[Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/)

> [Friendship, "the wine of life," should, like a well-stocked cellar, be continually renewed; and it is consolatory to think, that although we can seldom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-boswell/friendship-the-wine-of-life-should-like-a-well-stocked-cellar-be/)

[James Boswell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-boswell/)

> [I fell in love with my best friend, but I know that if it doesn't last, it will never be the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelly-yang/i-fell-in-love-with-my-best-friend-but-i-know-that-if-it-doesn-t-last/)

Shelly Yang

> [A best friend isn't someone who's just always there for you.Its someone who understands you a bit more than you understand yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/a-best-friend-isn-t-someone-who-s-just-always-there-for-you-its/)

[Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/)

[Browse all 14,984 Friend quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friend/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "There are two kinds of friends: Those who are around when you need them and those who are around when they need you.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Anonymous"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-are-two-kinds-of-friends-those-who-are-around-when-you-need/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Friend"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-are-two-kinds-of-friends-those-who-are-around-when-you-need/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ae/anonymous-1_friend_there-are-two-kinds-of-friends-those-who_466205.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ae/anonymous-1_friend_there-are-two-kinds-of-friends-those-who_466205.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ae/anonymous-1_friend_there-are-two-kinds-of-friends-those-who_466205.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“There are two kinds of friends: Those who are around when you need them and those who are around when they…” — Anonymous",
                "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": "Anonymous",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "There are two kinds of friends:...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-are-two-kinds-of-friends-those-who-are-around-when-you-need/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-are-two-kinds-of-friends-those-who-are-around-when-you-need/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
