--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As the years go by those relationships…" description: "\"“As the years go by those relationships are tested, and only then do you realize their true nature. Only after they've been tested through weddings, mo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/237/benjamin-j-carey-64114_best-friend_as-the-years-go-by-those-relationships-a_2658800.jpg" --- # As the years go by those relationships are tested, and… ![“As the years go by those relationships are tested, and only then do you realize their true nature. Only after they've been tested through weddings, moves, funerals, divorces, births and other stages in life are you able to judge them. Until then, 'best friend', 'good guy', etc are only labels. In…” quote by Benjamin J. Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/237/benjamin-j-carey-64114_best-friend_as-the-years-go-by-those-relationships-a_2658800.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/237/benjamin-j-carey-64114_best-friend_as-the-years-go-by-those-relationships-a_2658800.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/237/benjamin-j-carey-64114_best-friend_as-the-years-go-by-those-relationships-a_2658800.jpg) > ““As the years go by those relationships are tested, and only then do you realize their true nature. Only after they've been tested through weddings, moves, funerals, divorces, births and other stages in life are you able to judge them. Until then, 'best friend', 'good guy', etc are only labels. In the end, it's interesting; often surprising to see the results.”” [Benjamin J. Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-j-carey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Relationships are truly known after enduring life’s milestones; early labels are superficial. **In simple terms:** True nature revealed through life events. Key Takeaway Value long‑term experiences over labels. Themes relationships testing life stages labels growth Mood reflective thoughtful observational Type psychological social When to use this quote - marriage - friendship - family gatherings - career changes Key Concepts developmental psychology social bonds human experience Questions to Reflect On - How do challenges reshape relationships? - What signs indicate a genuine bond? A Different Perspective Labels can mislead early perceptions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Best friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-friend/) [Good guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-guy/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Relationship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relationship/) [Relationships](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relationships/) [True nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-nature/) ## Related quotes > [You will never truly know yourself or the strength of your relationships until both have been tested by adversity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/you-will-never-truly-know-yourself-or-the-strength-of-your/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [It took me far too long to realize that lost years and relationships cannot be recovered. That damage done to oneself and others cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-redfield-jamison/it-took-me-far-too-long-to-realize-that-lost-years-and-relationships-2/) [Kay Redfield Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-redfield-jamison/) > [“In order for your marriage to become that great love story there are certain things you need to establish in your early years together…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-k-popcak/in-order-for-your-marriage-to-become-that-great-love-story-there-are/) [Gregory K. Popcak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-k-popcak/) > [“As the years go by, it’s our relationships that will leave us the best memories to celebrate endlessly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-adamson/as-the-years-go-by-it-s-our-relationships-that-will-leave-us-the-best/) [Wes Adamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-adamson/) > [It's not a failure if a marriage or partnership ends after a certain number of years. I think, in general, we expect too much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-moggach/it-s-not-a-failure-if-a-marriage-or-partnership-ends-after-a-certain/) [Deborah Moggach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-moggach/) > [“I need to give you one last bit of advice in the off chance this rather extraordinary and enviable situation in which you find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisha-pessl/i-need-to-give-you-one-last-bit-of-advice-in-the-off-chance-this/) [Marisha Pessl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisha-pessl/) > [“Now I am experiencing the Clear Light of objective reality. Nothing is happening, nothing ever has happened or ever will happen. My present sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/now-i-am-experiencing-the-clear-light-of-objective-reality-nothing-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Self-realization or self-knowing or awakening is about knowing/ becoming conscious of our true nature and living in harmony with the universe in an ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-vazhakunnathu/self-realization-or-self-knowing-or-awakening-is-about-knowing/) [Thomas Vazhakunnathu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-vazhakunnathu/) > [In opening we can see how many times we have mistaken small identities and fearful beliefs for our true nature and how limiting this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/in-opening-we-can-see-how-many-times-we-have-mistaken-small/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [“Sometime before sleep it occurred to me that the true nature of being without might mean never knowing what one lacked.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tosca-lee/sometime-before-sleep-it-occurred-to-me-that-the-true-nature-of-being/) [Tosca Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tosca-lee/) > [“Hockey is not for pussies. Technically, it’s defined as a sport. Words like play and game get thrown around liberally to shield its true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-meader/hockey-is-not-for-pussies-technically-it-s-defined-as-a-sport-words/) [Kate Meader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-meader/) > [A person's true nature is revealed by how they treat those they have no reason to be nice to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/a-person-s-true-nature-is-revealed-by-how-they-treat-those-they-have/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [Our real nature is not our imaginary, limited ego. Our true nature is vast, all-comprehensive, and intangible as empty space.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anagarika-govinda/our-real-nature-is-not-our-imaginary-limited-ego-our-true-nature-is/) [Anagarika Govinda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anagarika-govinda/) > [The relentless attempts to be thin take you further and further away from what could actually end your suffering: getting back in touch with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/the-relentless-attempts-to-be-thin-take-you-further-and-further-away/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > [The true nature of soul is right knowledge, right faith and right conduct. The soul, so long as it is subject to transmigration, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virchand-gandhi/the-true-nature-of-soul-is-right-knowledge-right-faith-and-right/) [Virchand Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virchand-gandhi/) ## More by Benjamin J. 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Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-j-carey/) [Explore all 5 Benjamin J. Carey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-j-carey/) ## More Best friend quotes > [“But my best friend from college was silent for a long time. 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They're called best friends :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/sometimes-the-right-people-can-make-your-day-they-re-called-best/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [Here is your third gift from Me once again..I had a fourth gift it was about me making a video telling you how much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilbear/here-is-your-third-gift-from-me-once-again-i-had-a-fourth-gift-it-was/) [LilBear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilbear/) > [Our friendship is like a cup of tea¦a special blend of you and me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orebela-gbenga/our-friendship-is-like-a-cup-of-tea-a-special-blend-of-you-and-me/) [Orebela Gbenga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orebela-gbenga/) > [When you have the most beautiful best friend in the world what more could I ask for I love you Tay :) you mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick/when-you-have-the-most-beautiful-best-friend-in-the-world-what-more/) [Nick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick/) > [I believe in God, because he is the only thing that kept me going. He's my best friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-hahn/i-believe-in-god-because-he-is-the-only-thing-that-kept-me-going-he-s/) [Jessica Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-hahn/) > [ONE stone enough to break a glass,,, ONE sentence is enough to break a heart,,, FIRST sight is enough to fall in love,,, ONE…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-stone-enough-to-break-a-glass-one-sentence-is-enough-to-break-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A Real Man will help build his woman's self esteem not break it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-s-voice/a-real-man-will-help-build-his-woman-s-self-esteem-not-break-it/) Lisa's Voice [Browse all 6,524 Best friend quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-friend/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“As the years go by those relationships are tested, and only then do you realize their true nature. 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