--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A true friend is someone who says nice…" description: "\"A true friend is someone who says nice things behind your back.\" — Anthony Michael Hall" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6b/anthony-michael-hall-20521_behind-your-back_a-true-friend-is-someone-who-says-nice-t_3074145.png" --- # A true friend is someone who says nice things behind your… ![“A true friend is someone who says nice things behind your back.” quote by Anthony Michael Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6b/anthony-michael-hall-20521_behind-your-back_a-true-friend-is-someone-who-says-nice-t_3074145.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6b/anthony-michael-hall-20521_behind-your-back_a-true-friend-is-someone-who-says-nice-t_3074145.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6b/anthony-michael-hall-20521_behind-your-back_a-true-friend-is-someone-who-says-nice-t_3074145.png) > “A true friend is someone who says nice things behind your back.” [Anthony Michael Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-michael-hall/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A genuine friend offers honest praise even when you aren't present, showing true loyalty. **In simple terms:** Friends give honest praise behind your back. Key Takeaway Value honest loyalty in friendships. Themes friendship honesty loyalty Mood warm reflective Type advice observational When to use this quote - teamwork - personal relationships - conflict resolution Key Concepts trust authenticity Questions to Reflect On - Do you trust friends to be honest when you’re not listening? - How does honest feedback strengthen bonds? A Different Perspective People may fear honesty and avoid speaking truthfully. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Behind your back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behind-your-back/) [Behinds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behinds/) [Friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friend/) [Friend Says](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friend-says-372296/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) [Nice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nice/) [Nice things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nice-things/) [Says Nice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/says-nice-1130490/) [True](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true/) [True friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-friend/) [True friend is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-friend-is/) ## Related quotes > [Definition of a true friend: Someone who says nice things about you when you arent around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/definition-of-a-true-friend-someone-who-says-nice-things-about-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A friend is a person who goes around saying nice things about you behind your back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-friend-is-a-person-who-goes-around-saying-nice-things-about-you/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“Which brand would you like more: one that says that it is nice or one that does something nice for you?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/of-the-social-brand/which-brand-would-you-like-more-one-that-says-that-it-is-nice-or-one/) [of the Social Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/of-the-social-brand/) > [“Oh, that's great. That way, when things have quieted down, and we come up for air, or money, or re-supply, we'll get a nice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-tayler/oh-that-s-great-that-way-when-things-have-quieted-down-and-we-come-up/) [Howard Tayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-tayler/) > [The trouble when you die is that everyone says you were nice. I would like to be thought of as genuinely nice. I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/len-goodman/the-trouble-when-you-die-is-that-everyone-says-you-were-nice-i-would/) [Len Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/len-goodman/) > [I've seen stuff that says be nice and I think: you're not showing me anything. You're telling me, like a Hallmark card: be nice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-goldstein/i-ve-seen-stuff-that-says-be-nice-and-i-think-you-re-not-showing-me/) [Brett Goldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-goldstein/) > [True friends say good things behind you back and bad things to your face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-tomasello/true-friends-say-good-things-behind-you-back-and-bad-things-to-your/) [Mario Tomasello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-tomasello/) > [I look back now and realize that the gift of a true friend is that she sees you not the way you see yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-jones-gunn/i-look-back-now-and-realize-that-the-gift-of-a-true-friend-is-that/) [Robin Jones Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-jones-gunn/) > [A true friend is tested in adversity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quintus-ennius/a-true-friend-is-tested-in-adversity/) [Quintus Ennius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quintus-ennius/) > [A true friend is someone with whom protocol is no longer necessary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/a-true-friend-is-someone-with-whom-protocol-is-no-longer-necessary/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [The way to make a true friend is to be one. Friendship implies loyalty, esteem, cordiality, sympathy, affection, readiness to aid, to help, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/the-way-to-make-a-true-friend-is-to-be-one-friendship-implies-loyalty/) [B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/) > [The definition of a true friend is not someone who swoops in when you're going through a rough patch. True friendship is when someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-jio/the-definition-of-a-true-friend-is-not-someone-who-swoops-in-when-you/) [Sarah Jio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-jio/) > [Do as little harm to others as you can; make any sacrifice for your true friends; be responsible for yourself and ask nothing of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/do-as-little-harm-to-others-as-you-can-make-any-sacrifice-for-your/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [If you'd be beloved, make yourself amiable. A true friend is the best possession.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/if-you-d-be-beloved-make-yourself-amiable-a-true-friend-is-the-best/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Linda Tripp has shown that a true friend is an archivist, a biographer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-schmich/linda-tripp-has-shown-that-a-true-friend-is-an-archivist-a-biographer/) [Mary Schmich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-schmich/) ## More by Anthony Michael Hall > [I mean, before this, I would have said playing Bill Gates, because I'm playing someone obviously who is alive and is the richest man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-michael-hall/i-mean-before-this-i-would-have-said-playing-bill-gates-because-i-m/) [Anthony Michael Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-michael-hall/) > [First of all, it was in my contract. I knew I would be directing an episode.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-michael-hall/first-of-all-it-was-in-my-contract-i-knew-i-would-be-directing-an/) [Anthony Michael Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-michael-hall/) > [I think that obstacles lead to growth and ultimately, the most learning I've done in my life is between jobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-michael-hall/i-think-that-obstacles-lead-to-growth-and-ultimately-the-most/) [Anthony Michael Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-michael-hall/) > [Movies are just ridiculously expensive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-michael-hall/movies-are-just-ridiculously-expensive/) [Anthony Michael Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-michael-hall/) > [We have $70 and a pair of girl's underpants. We're safe as kittens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-michael-hall/we-have-70-and-a-pair-of-girl-s-underpants-we-re-safe-as-kittens/) [Anthony Michael Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-michael-hall/) > [You want to do work that is remembered, you want to be a part of something that's remembered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-michael-hall/you-want-to-do-work-that-is-remembered-you-want-to-be-a-part-of/) [Anthony Michael Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-michael-hall/) > [They all matter to me, whether I'm working on a Sam Jackson film for a week or I'm the star of my own TV…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-michael-hall/they-all-matter-to-me-whether-i-m-working-on-a-sam-jackson-film-for-a/) [Anthony Michael Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-michael-hall/) > [15 years later, it's all the TV stars with the film deals, whether it's the cast of Friends or That '70s Show now with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-michael-hall/15-years-later-it-s-all-the-tv-stars-with-the-film-deals-whether-it-s/) [Anthony Michael Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-michael-hall/) > [Why are you messing with the fantasy? We know about the reality. Don't ruin the fantasy, OK?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-michael-hall/why-are-you-messing-with-the-fantasy-we-know-about-the-reality-don-t/) [Anthony Michael Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-michael-hall/) > [There are people who do De Niro and Walken impersonations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-michael-hall/there-are-people-who-do-de-niro-and-walken-impersonations/) [Anthony Michael Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-michael-hall/) > [I think in both of those situations, it's important as an actor to learn, despite the success I had as a kid, that it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-michael-hall/i-think-in-both-of-those-situations-it-s-important-as-an-actor-to/) [Anthony Michael Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-michael-hall/) > [Well, I've learned something from Michael Robison just about maximizing your shots. For example, if I'm shooting a scene and someone's driving at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-michael-hall/well-i-ve-learned-something-from-michael-robison-just-about/) [Anthony Michael Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-michael-hall/) > [I think my favorite, and Coppola and that whole thing. East coast Italian directors I guess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-michael-hall/i-think-my-favorite-and-coppola-and-that-whole-thing-east-coast/) [Anthony Michael Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-michael-hall/) > [Cutting edge, breakthrough, television. That's what we want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-michael-hall/cutting-edge-breakthrough-television-that-s-what-we-want-to-do/) [Anthony Michael Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-michael-hall/) > [Like any show, I think some episodes are going to be stronger than others, but I think it's a good show that people enjoy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-michael-hall/like-any-show-i-think-some-episodes-are-going-to-be-stronger-than/) [Anthony Michael Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-michael-hall/) [Explore all 30 Anthony Michael Hall quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-michael-hall/) ## More Behind your back quotes > [If you want to know how to make people shun you and laugh at you behind your back and even despise you, here is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/if-you-want-to-know-how-to-make-people-shun-you-and-laugh-at-you/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [Don't worry about what people say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-jean-king/don-t-worry-about-what-people-say/) [Billie Jean King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-jean-king/) > [I don't have any friends and don't have any intention of making any. People will stab you in the back, mistreat you, talk about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-coleman/i-don-t-have-any-friends-and-don-t-have-any-intention-of-making-any/) [Gary Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-coleman/) > [A friend is a person who goes around saying nice things about you behind your back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-friend-is-a-person-who-goes-around-saying-nice-things-about-you/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [It's hard sometimes to not want to know what people are saying behind your back and to ignore certain things that are being written.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sienna-miller/it-s-hard-sometimes-to-not-want-to-know-what-people-are-saying-behind/) [Sienna Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sienna-miller/) > [To me, my Dad's the greatest guy - next to Jesus Christ - who ever walked this planet. He's been that outstanding male role…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-tippin/to-me-my-dad-s-the-greatest-guy-next-to-jesus-christ-who-ever-walked/) [Aaron Tippin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-tippin/) > [We fear our enemy but the bigger and real fear is that of a fake friend who is sweetest to your face and most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mufti-ismail-menk/we-fear-our-enemy-but-the-bigger-and-real-fear-is-that-of-a-fake/) [Mufti Ismail Menk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mufti-ismail-menk/) > [One they stop talking to you, they start talking about you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-they-stop-talking-to-you-they-start-talking-about-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You work enough with someone and you develop a shorthand. You know how he likes to work through the day and he knows where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-strathairn/you-work-enough-with-someone-and-you-develop-a-shorthand-you-know-how/) [David Strathairn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-strathairn/) > [The world doesn't change in front of your eyes, it changes behind your back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-world-doesn-t-change-in-front-of-your-eyes-it-changes-behind-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [True friends say good things behind you back and bad things to your face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-tomasello/true-friends-say-good-things-behind-you-back-and-bad-things-to-your/) [Mario Tomasello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-tomasello/) > [Just because they say they're praying for you in your face, doesn't mean they aren't laughing at your struggle behind your back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-shelton/just-because-they-say-they-re-praying-for-you-in-your-face-doesn-t/) [Trent Shelton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-shelton/) > [A friend isn't someone who is nice to your face, it's someone who isn't rude to you behind your back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-friend-isn-t-someone-who-is-nice-to-your-face-it-s-someone-who-isn/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A friend cannot be considered a friend until he is tested in three occasions: in timeof need, behind your back, and after your death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-ibn-abi-talib/a-friend-cannot-be-considered-a-friend-until-he-is-tested-in-three/) [Ali ibn Abi Talib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-ibn-abi-talib/) > [You try to sit down at approximately the same time every day. This is how you train your unconscious to kick in for you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/you-try-to-sit-down-at-approximately-the-same-time-every-day-this-is/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) [Browse all 44 Behind your back quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behind-your-back/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A true friend is someone who says nice things behind your back.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Anthony Michael Hall" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-michael-hall/a-true-friend-is-someone-who-says-nice-things-behind-your-back/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Behind your back" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-michael-hall/a-true-friend-is-someone-who-says-nice-things-behind-your-back/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6b/anthony-michael-hall-20521_behind-your-back_a-true-friend-is-someone-who-says-nice-t_3074145.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6b/anthony-michael-hall-20521_behind-your-back_a-true-friend-is-someone-who-says-nice-t_3074145.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6b/anthony-michael-hall-20521_behind-your-back_a-true-friend-is-someone-who-says-nice-t_3074145.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A true friend is someone who says nice things behind your back.” — Anthony Michael Hall", "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": "Anthony Michael Hall", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-michael-hall/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A true friend is someone who...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-michael-hall/a-true-friend-is-someone-who-says-nice-things-behind-your-back/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-michael-hall/a-true-friend-is-someone-who-says-nice-things-behind-your-back/#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 } } ] } ```