--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can change friends but not neighbours." description: "\"You can change friends but not neighbours.\" — Atal Bihari Vajpayee" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfa/atal-bihari-vajpayee-5114_change_you-can-change-friends-but-not-neighbour_2134931.png" --- # You can change friends but not neighbours. ![“You can change friends but not neighbours.” quote by Atal Bihari Vajpayee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfa/atal-bihari-vajpayee-5114_change_you-can-change-friends-but-not-neighbour_2134931.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfa/atal-bihari-vajpayee-5114_change_you-can-change-friends-but-not-neighbour_2134931.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfa/atal-bihari-vajpayee-5114_change_you-can-change-friends-but-not-neighbour_2134931.png) > “You can change friends but not neighbours.” [Atal Bihari Vajpayee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atal-bihari-vajpayee/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. You can change your friends but not the people who live near you, implying community ties are hard to alter. **In simple terms:** Friends change, neighbours stay. Key Takeaway Invest in local relationships. Themes community friendship neighbourhood change Mood hopeful practical reflective Type motivational social When to use this quote - moving houses - local activism - neighbour disputes Key Concepts social dynamics rootedness Questions to Reflect On - What can you do to improve your neighbourhood? - How do you balance new friendships with existing ties? A Different Perspective Neighbourhoods can be changed over time. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friend/) [Friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friends/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Neighbours](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neighbours/) ## Related quotes > [The Britain I love works with its friends and neighbours it doesn't walk away from them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-davidson/the-britain-i-love-works-with-its-friends-and-neighbours-it-doesn-t/) [Ruth Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-davidson/) > [My friends always told me I was short, dumb and ugly. And you know what, I believed them. But when you change your friends,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-ruettiger/my-friends-always-told-me-i-was-short-dumb-and-ugly-and-you-know-what/) [Rudy Ruettiger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-ruettiger/) > [Facebook should change it from Friends to People Ive made eye contact with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/facebook-should-change-it-from-friends-to-people-ive-made-eye-contact/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I've learned that we don't have to change friends… if we understand that friends change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ve-learned-that-we-don-t-have-to-change-friends-if-we-understand/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Change of friends Like clothes , love for this people for just a like not more than game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/change-of-friends-like-clothes-love-for-this-people-for-just-a-like/) Mak\_786 > [I think with success you do get a little more guarded and you start to change your friends. You become more isolated. And you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-prince/i-think-with-success-you-do-get-a-little-more-guarded-and-you-start/) [Richard Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-prince/) > [If your friends cause you to lie or pretend about liking or disliking, enjoying or loathing something. If you're having to change yourself for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bella-shaw/if-your-friends-cause-you-to-lie-or-pretend-about-liking-or-disliking/) [Bella Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bella-shaw/) > [People constantly change all around me, the friends I had are completely different now. they've all been hyped up on shit and its making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larissa-brodie/people-constantly-change-all-around-me-the-friends-i-had-are/) Larissa Brodie > [We don't have to change friends if we understand that friends change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-don-t-have-to-change-friends-if-we-understand-that-friends-change/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [People change. Friends become enemies. Things go wrong, but life goes on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-change-friends-become-enemies-things-go-wrong-but-life-goes-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It suddenly dawned on me that if Michael were still around, Susan probably wouldn't be "going out" with him anymore. Not because she's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/it-suddenly-dawned-on-me-that-if-michael-were-still-around-susan/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [Things change, and friends leave, but life doesn't stop for anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/things-change-and-friends-leave-but-life-doesn-t-stop-for-anybody/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [It's amazing when strangers become friends but it's so sad, when friends become strangers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-amazing-when-strangers-become-friends-but-it-s-so-sad-when/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Hackney gets a bit of a bad rap, but it's the only place I've ever lived that felt like a community. I know my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-horgan/hackney-gets-a-bit-of-a-bad-rap-but-it-s-the-only-place-i-ve-ever/) [Sharon Horgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-horgan/) > [Borrow trouble for yourself, if that's your nature, but don't lend it to your neighbours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudyard-kipling/borrow-trouble-for-yourself-if-that-s-your-nature-but-don-t-lend-it/) [Rudyard Kipling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudyard-kipling/) ## More by Atal Bihari Vajpayee > [Declaring victory without war .. the belief that India gave up the option of war under American pressure is totally wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atal-bihari-vajpayee/declaring-victory-without-war-the-belief-that-india-gave-up-the/) [Atal Bihari Vajpayee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atal-bihari-vajpayee/) > [If the elections are a mere fraud, why are terrorists being trained and infiltrated into India at the command of the Inter-Services Intelligence Agency…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atal-bihari-vajpayee/if-the-elections-are-a-mere-fraud-why-are-terrorists-being-trained/) [Atal Bihari Vajpayee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atal-bihari-vajpayee/) > [No state should be allowed to profess partnership with the global coalition against terror, while continuing to aid, abet and sponsor terrorism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atal-bihari-vajpayee/no-state-should-be-allowed-to-profess-partnership-with-the-global/) [Atal Bihari Vajpayee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atal-bihari-vajpayee/) > [India has a consistent and well-known position on terrorism. We oppose all acts of terrorism, wherever they occur. We have repeatedly said that no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atal-bihari-vajpayee/india-has-a-consistent-and-well-known-position-on-terrorism-we-oppose/) [Atal Bihari Vajpayee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atal-bihari-vajpayee/) > [I try to indulge my muse whenever I am able to get away from it all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atal-bihari-vajpayee/i-try-to-indulge-my-muse-whenever-i-am-able-to-get-away-from-it-all/) [Atal Bihari Vajpayee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atal-bihari-vajpayee/) > [As we talk with candour, we open the doors to new possibilities and new areas of cooperation in advance in democracy, in combating terrorism,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atal-bihari-vajpayee/as-we-talk-with-candour-we-open-the-doors-to-new-possibilities-and/) [Atal Bihari Vajpayee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atal-bihari-vajpayee/) > [If Pakistan claims to be a crucial partner in the international coalition against terrorism, how can it continue to use terrorism as an instrument…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atal-bihari-vajpayee/if-pakistan-claims-to-be-a-crucial-partner-in-the-international/) [Atal Bihari Vajpayee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atal-bihari-vajpayee/) > [India has no dearth of brave young men and women and if they get the opportunity and help then we can compete with other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atal-bihari-vajpayee/india-has-no-dearth-of-brave-young-men-and-women-and-if-they-get-the/) [Atal Bihari Vajpayee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atal-bihari-vajpayee/) > [I would like that no citizen of the state feels alone and helpless. The entire nation is with them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atal-bihari-vajpayee/i-would-like-that-no-citizen-of-the-state-feels-alone-and-helpless/) [Atal Bihari Vajpayee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atal-bihari-vajpayee/) > [No one can be considered untouchable on political grounds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atal-bihari-vajpayee/no-one-can-be-considered-untouchable-on-political-grounds/) [Atal Bihari Vajpayee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atal-bihari-vajpayee/) > [The overwhelming public sentiment in India was that no meaningful dialogue can be held with Pakistan until it abandons the use of terrorism as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atal-bihari-vajpayee/the-overwhelming-public-sentiment-in-india-was-that-no-meaningful/) [Atal Bihari Vajpayee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atal-bihari-vajpayee/) > [The prime minister's office is not something that one enjoys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atal-bihari-vajpayee/the-prime-minister-s-office-is-not-something-that-one-enjoys/) [Atal Bihari Vajpayee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atal-bihari-vajpayee/) > [We want peace to be permanent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atal-bihari-vajpayee/we-want-peace-to-be-permanent/) [Atal Bihari Vajpayee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atal-bihari-vajpayee/) > [I am contesting elections since 1952, but never did I throw mud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atal-bihari-vajpayee/i-am-contesting-elections-since-1952-but-never-did-i-throw-mud/) [Atal Bihari Vajpayee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atal-bihari-vajpayee/) > [It requires an effort of logical acrobatics to believe that carnage of innocents is an instrument for freedom and elections are a symbol of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atal-bihari-vajpayee/it-requires-an-effort-of-logical-acrobatics-to-believe-that-carnage/) [Atal Bihari Vajpayee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atal-bihari-vajpayee/) [Explore all 103 Atal Bihari Vajpayee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atal-bihari-vajpayee/) ## More Change quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [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/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) Phil Hogan > [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You can change friends but not neighbours.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Atal Bihari Vajpayee" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atal-bihari-vajpayee/you-can-change-friends-but-not-neighbours/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Change" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atal-bihari-vajpayee/you-can-change-friends-but-not-neighbours/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfa/atal-bihari-vajpayee-5114_change_you-can-change-friends-but-not-neighbour_2134931.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfa/atal-bihari-vajpayee-5114_change_you-can-change-friends-but-not-neighbour_2134931.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfa/atal-bihari-vajpayee-5114_change_you-can-change-friends-but-not-neighbour_2134931.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You can change friends but not neighbours.” — Atal Bihari Vajpayee", "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": "Atal Bihari Vajpayee", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atal-bihari-vajpayee/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You can change friends but not...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atal-bihari-vajpayee/you-can-change-friends-but-not-neighbours/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atal-bihari-vajpayee/you-can-change-friends-but-not-neighbours/#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 } } ] } ```