---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Guests, like fish, begin to smell after…"
description: "\"Guests, like fish, begin to smell after three days.\" — Benjamin Franklin"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/050/benjamin-franklin-65_guests_guests-like-fish-begin-to-smell-after-th_3221158.png"
---

#  Guests, like fish, begin to smell after three days.

![“Guests, like fish, begin to smell after three days.” quote by Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/050/benjamin-franklin-65_guests_guests-like-fish-begin-to-smell-after-th_3221158.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/050/benjamin-franklin-65_guests_guests-like-fish-begin-to-smell-after-th_3221158.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/050/benjamin-franklin-65_guests_guests-like-fish-begin-to-smell-after-th_3221158.png)

> “Guests, like fish, begin to smell after three days.”

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

## About This Quote

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

People become unpleasant after a short time, like fish that spoil quickly.

**In simple terms:** Friends can become tiresome after a few days.

Key Takeaway

Choose companions wisely and maintain fresh interactions.

Themes

friendship patience social dynamics

Mood

thoughtful observational

Type

philosophical practical

When to use this quote

- work teams
- social gatherings
- long‑term collaborations

Key Concepts

human nature relationship fatigue

Questions to Reflect On

- What signs indicate a relationship is becoming stale?
- How can you keep interactions engaging?

A Different Perspective

Not all relationships deteriorate; context matters.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Smell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smell/)

## Related quotes

> [Fish and visitors smell in three days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/fish-and-visitors-smell-in-three-days/)

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

> [“Treat your family like guests and your guests like family.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-baer/treat-your-family-like-guests-and-your-guests-like-family/)

[Judy Baer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-baer/)

> [“The secret is treating family like guests and guests like family,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-vincent/the-secret-is-treating-family-like-guests-and-guests-like-family/)

Isabel Vincent

> [A countryman between two lawyers is like a fish between two cats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/a-countryman-between-two-lawyers-is-like-a-fish-between-two-cats/)

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

> [“My breath smells like fish. I need to gargle tartar sauce.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/my-breath-smells-like-fish-i-need-to-gargle-tartar-sauce/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [“When you kiss a Mer-male, does it taste like fish?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadine-christian/when-you-kiss-a-mer-male-does-it-taste-like-fish/)

Nadine Christian

> [Fish and visitors stink in three days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/fish-and-visitors-stink-in-three-days/)

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

> [After three days men grow weary, of a wench, a guest, and weather rainy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/after-three-days-men-grow-weary-of-a-wench-a-guest-and-weather-rainy/)

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

> [“I will hear a noise, like a fish jumping, and when I look I'll see Lizzy coming to the surface, shaking off her pink…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-hamilton/i-will-hear-a-noise-like-a-fish-jumping-and-when-i-look-i-ll-see/)

[Jane Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-hamilton/)

> [Like a fish needs a bicycle. A goldfish riding a bicycle underwater. I need a man like a fish needs a bicycle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irina-dunn/like-a-fish-needs-a-bicycle-a-goldfish-riding-a-bicycle-underwater-i/)

Irina Dunn

> [Twinkle twinkle little whore, close them legs, they smell like fish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/racheey-babbeess/twinkle-twinkle-little-whore-close-them-legs-they-smell-like-fish/)

Racheey Babbeess

> [I am like the fish in the aquarium, thinking in a different language, adapting to a life that’s not my natural habitat. I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-am-like-the-fish-in-the-aquarium-thinking-in-a-different-language/)

[David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/)

> [I like to fish. Fishing is always a way of relaxing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-felton/i-like-to-fish-fishing-is-always-a-way-of-relaxing/)

[Tom Felton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-felton/)

> [We have learned to fly the air like birds and swim the sea like fish, but we have not learned the simple art of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr-2/we-have-learned-to-fly-the-air-like-birds-and-swim-the-sea-like-fish/)

[Martin Luther King Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr-2/)

> [“They're not people at all, they're graduate students, there's a difference. They fuck like bunnies and drink like fish and stay up late worrying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-canty/they-re-not-people-at-all-they-re-graduate-students-there-s-a/)

[Kevin Canty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-canty/)

## More by Benjamin Franklin

> [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/)

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

> [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/)

> [“Give me 26 lead soldiers and I will conquer the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/give-me-26-lead-soldiers-and-i-will-conquer-the-world/)

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

> [Flowers are the alphabet of angels, whereby they write on the hills and fields mysterious truths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/flowers-are-the-alphabet-of-angels-whereby-they-write-on-the-hills/)

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

> [In the affairs of this world, men are saved not by faith, but by the want of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/in-the-affairs-of-this-world-men-are-saved-not-by-faith-but-by-the/)

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

> [By heaven we understand a state of happiness infinite in degree, and endless in duration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/by-heaven-we-understand-a-state-of-happiness-infinite-in-degree-and/)

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

> [I have thought that wild flowers might be the alphabet of angels, — whereby they write on hills and fields mysterious truths, which it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/i-have-thought-that-wild-flowers-might-be-the-alphabet-of-angels/)

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

> [How do you become better tomorrow? By improving yourself, the world is made better. Be not afraid of growing too slowly. Be afraid of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/how-do-you-become-better-tomorrow-by-improving-yourself-the-world-is/)

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

> [Little leaks sink the ship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/little-leaks-sink-the-ship/)

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

> [Who is rich? He that is content. Who is that? Nobody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/who-is-rich-he-that-is-content-who-is-that-nobody/)

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

> [“But on the whole, though I never arrived at the perfection I had been so ambitious of obtaining, but fell far short of it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/but-on-the-whole-though-i-never-arrived-at-the-perfection-i-had-been/)

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

> [The good particular men may do separately, in relieving the sick, is small, compared with what they may do collectively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/the-good-particular-men-may-do-separately-in-relieving-the-sick-is/)

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

> [Love your Neighbour; yet don't pull down your Hedge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/love-your-neighbour-yet-don-t-pull-down-your-hedge/)

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

> [Take counsel in wine, but resolve afterwards in water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/take-counsel-in-wine-but-resolve-afterwards-in-water/)

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

> [He that's secure is not safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/he-that-s-secure-is-not-safe/)

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

[Explore all 1,692 Benjamin Franklin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

## More Guests quotes

> [Our concept of a family holiday was going to a guest house in the Lake district or Wales where walking was part of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bannister/our-concept-of-a-family-holiday-was-going-to-a-guest-house-in-the/)

[Roger Bannister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bannister/)

> [Whoever expects to walk peacefully in the world must be money's guest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-o-brown/whoever-expects-to-walk-peacefully-in-the-world-must-be-money-s-guest/)

[Norman O. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-o-brown/)

> [Regular panelists on shows can be terrifying. They own that space, and many guest comics suspect they are favoured in the edit, while their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-brand/regular-panelists-on-shows-can-be-terrifying-they-own-that-space-and/)

[Jo Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-brand/)

> [“THE UNFORGIVEN Tell me if you've ever had to deal with these kinds of people: The kind who take and don't give. The kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/the-unforgiven-tell-me-if-you-ve-ever-had-to-deal-with-these-kinds-of/)

[Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/)

> [ I've gotten to portray things in \[Christopher Guest's\] movies that I wouldn't have in others. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parker-posey/i-ve-gotten-to-portray-things-in-christopher-guest-s-movies-that-i/)

[Parker Posey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parker-posey/)

> [Guests are people who come to your home to see you whine at the table, bark loudly, jump on women wearing pantyhose, and do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peg-kehret/guests-are-people-who-come-to-your-home-to-see-you-whine-at-the-table/)

[Peg Kehret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peg-kehret/)

> [Comedy scares me a lot. I feel like it's way harder than drama. I think my safety net is definitely drama, and I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tatiana-maslany/comedy-scares-me-a-lot-i-feel-like-it-s-way-harder-than-drama-i-think/)

[Tatiana Maslany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tatiana-maslany/)

> [The theme of the party was Neverland Ranch, so guests were asked to come as anyone or anything associated with Michael Jackson. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/april-winchell/the-theme-of-the-party-was-neverland-ranch-so-guests-were-asked-to/)

[April Winchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/april-winchell/)

> [It's different as a guest as opposed to being a star of a series. A guest star is a whole different responsibility. It's much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-wahlberg/it-s-different-as-a-guest-as-opposed-to-being-a-star-of-a-series-a/)

[Donnie Wahlberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-wahlberg/)

> [For I, who hold sage Homer's rule the best, Welcome the coming, speed the going guest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/for-i-who-hold-sage-homer-s-rule-the-best-welcome-the-coming-speed/)

[Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/)

> [When you're running for president, you're a guest in the living room for four years. And if people don't think you're going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/when-you-re-running-for-president-you-re-a-guest-in-the-living-room/)

[David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/)

> [People are either born hosts or born guests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-beerbohm/people-are-either-born-hosts-or-born-guests/)

[Max Beerbohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-beerbohm/)

> [In order to prove a friend to one's guests, frugality must reign in one's meals; and, according to an ancient saying, one must eat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/in-order-to-prove-a-friend-to-one-s-guests-frugality-must-reign-in/)

[Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/)

> [If you don't have any individuality and you're happy just being one of the girls (or boys) be my guest. I'm not the fashion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-apfel/if-you-don-t-have-any-individuality-and-you-re-happy-just-being-one/)

[Iris Apfel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-apfel/)

> [The average actor might only be able to book six to eight guest star jobs a year - that would be high. So when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-broderick/the-average-actor-might-only-be-able-to-book-six-to-eight-guest-star/)

[Beth Broderick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-broderick/)

Browse all 843 Guests quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Guests, like fish, begin to smell after three days.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Benjamin Franklin"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/guests-like-fish-begin-to-smell-after-three-days/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Guests"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/guests-like-fish-begin-to-smell-after-three-days/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/050/benjamin-franklin-65_guests_guests-like-fish-begin-to-smell-after-th_3221158.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/050/benjamin-franklin-65_guests_guests-like-fish-begin-to-smell-after-th_3221158.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/050/benjamin-franklin-65_guests_guests-like-fish-begin-to-smell-after-th_3221158.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Guests, like fish, begin to smell after three days.” — Benjamin Franklin",
                "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": "Benjamin Franklin",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Guests, like fish, begin to smell...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/guests-like-fish-begin-to-smell-after-three-days/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/guests-like-fish-begin-to-smell-after-three-days/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
