--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Either be a true friend or a mere…" description: "\"Either be a true friend or a mere stranger: a true friend will delight to do good--a mere stranger will do no harm.\" — Benjamin Whichcote" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e3/benjamin-whichcote-7885_delight_either-be-a-true-friend-or-a-mere-strang_2538519.png" --- # Either be a true friend or a mere stranger: a true friend… ![“Either be a true friend or a mere stranger: a true friend will delight to do good--a mere stranger will do no harm.” quote by Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e3/benjamin-whichcote-7885_delight_either-be-a-true-friend-or-a-mere-strang_2538519.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e3/benjamin-whichcote-7885_delight_either-be-a-true-friend-or-a-mere-strang_2538519.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e3/benjamin-whichcote-7885_delight_either-be-a-true-friend-or-a-mere-strang_2538519.png) > “Either be a true friend or a mere stranger: a true friend will delight to do good--a mere stranger will do no harm.” [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) ## 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 involves active goodwill, while strangers merely avoid harm. **In simple terms:** Friends do good; strangers do nothing. Key Takeaway Seek relationships that inspire positive action. Themes friendship morality intentionality Mood reflective encouraging Type ethical inspirational When to use this quote - community building - mentorship - conflict resolution Key Concepts ethical philosophy humanism Questions to Reflect On - How can you differentiate a true friend from a casual acquaintance? - What actions demonstrate genuine friendship? A Different Perspective Not all acquaintances can be deep friends; expectations must be realistic. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Delight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delight/) [Friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friend/) [Friend Delight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friend-delight-1411838/) [Friend Mere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friend-mere-1411837/) [Friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friends/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Harm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harm/) [Mere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mere/) [Mere Stranger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mere-stranger-1411839/) [Stranger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stranger/) [Stranger Harm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stranger-harm-1411840/) [True friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-friend/) ## Related quotes > [It's sad when a best friend becomes a mere acquaintance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-sad-when-a-best-friend-becomes-a-mere-acquaintance/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [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/) > [None can do a man so much harm as he doeth himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/none-can-do-a-man-so-much-harm-as-he-doeth-himself/) [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) > [To love without condition, To talk without intention, To give without reason, And to care without expectation¦ this is the heart of a true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-love-without-condition-to-talk-without-intention-to-give-without/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [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/) > [If You Trust Someone, Trust Till The End. Whatever The Results May Be, In The End Either You'll Have A Very Good Friend Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/if-you-trust-someone-trust-till-the-end-whatever-the-results-may-be/) [Pacifiersucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pacifiersucker/) > [Always respect, honour And Pray for those who helped you in your bad time. Also be thankful to bad time, For showing you those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/always-respect-honour-and-pray-for-those-who-helped-you-in-your-bad/) [Pacifiersucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pacifiersucker/) > [Nichole, She has been there for me every time I have fallen. She has given me advice about love. She has always kept me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kinzz/nichole-she-has-been-there-for-me-every-time-i-have-fallen-she-has/) [Kinzz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kinzz/) > [I say find one true friend to help you get through the tough times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-osbourne/i-say-find-one-true-friend-to-help-you-get-through-the-tough-times/) [Kelly Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-osbourne/) > [You're trying too HARD to convince me that you're a TRUE friend & DEEP Down Inside you know you're not but you stick around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ta-nisha-marie/you-re-trying-too-hard-to-convince-me-that-you-re-a-true-friend-deep/) [Ta'Nisha Marie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ta-nisha-marie/) > [When you fall, fake friends smirk and walk away. True friends help you up and ask if you're okay. I am a true friend,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-fall-fake-friends-smirk-and-walk-away-true-friends-help-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [True friendship is sitting together in silence and feeling like it was the best conversation you've ever had.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/true-friendship-is-sitting-together-in-silence-and-feeling-like-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [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/) > [“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/) > [Maybe you can,t buy a big house.. A new car.. A huge diamond ring.. But if you have just one true friend who loves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy/maybe-you-can-t-buy-a-big-house-a-new-car-a-huge-diamond-ring-but-if/) [Cathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy/) ## More by Benjamin Whichcote > [Whoever despiseth shame, despiseth sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/whoever-despiseth-shame-despiseth-sin/) [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) > [Truth is not only a man's ornament but his instrument; it is the great man's glory, and the poor man's stock: a man's truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/truth-is-not-only-a-man-s-ornament-but-his-instrument-it-is-the-great/) [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) > [He that repents is angry with himself; I need not be angry with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/he-that-repents-is-angry-with-himself-i-need-not-be-angry-with-him/) [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) > [None can do a man so much harm as he doeth himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/none-can-do-a-man-so-much-harm-as-he-doeth-himself/) [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) > [Let not a man's self be to him all in all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/let-not-a-man-s-self-be-to-him-all-in-all/) [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) > [Take away the self-conceited, and there will be elbowroom in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/take-away-the-self-conceited-and-there-will-be-elbowroom-in-the-world/) [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) > [Let us all so live as we shall wish we had lived when we come to die; for that only is well, that ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/let-us-all-so-live-as-we-shall-wish-we-had-lived-when-we-come-to-die/) [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) > [Christ is God clothed with human nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/christ-is-god-clothed-with-human-nature/) [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) > [The sense of repentance is better assurance of pardon than the testimony of an angel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/the-sense-of-repentance-is-better-assurance-of-pardon-than-the/) [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) > [We are made for one another, and each is to be a supply to his neighbor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/we-are-made-for-one-another-and-each-is-to-be-a-supply-to-his-neighbor/) [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) > [A benefactor is a representative of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/a-benefactor-is-a-representative-of-god/) [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) > [He that would have the perfection of pleasure must be moderate in the use of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/he-that-would-have-the-perfection-of-pleasure-must-be-moderate-in-the/) [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) > [He that useth his reason doth acknowledge God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/he-that-useth-his-reason-doth-acknowledge-god/) [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) > [None of us was born knowing or wise; but men become wise by consideration, observation, experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/none-of-us-was-born-knowing-or-wise-but-men-become-wise-by/) [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) > [None are so empty as those who are full of themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/none-are-so-empty-as-those-who-are-full-of-themselves/) [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) [Explore all 86 Benjamin Whichcote quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) ## More Delight quotes > [She smiled with all the delight of a kid on Christmas morning and said, "Y'all smoke to enjoy it. I smoke to die." -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/she-smiled-with-all-the-delight-of-a-kid-on-christmas-morning-and/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Shhh.” He put a finger to her lips. “Hear me out. I cannot deny that I would've liked to have made babies with you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hoyt/shhh-he-put-a-finger-to-her-lips-hear-me-out-i-cannot-deny-that-i/) [Elizabeth Hoyt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hoyt/) > [There is a spirit which I feel that delights to do no evil, nor to revenge any wrong, but delights to endure all things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nayler/there-is-a-spirit-which-i-feel-that-delights-to-do-no-evil-nor-to/) [James Nayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nayler/) > [There was an Old Man of Messina, Whose daughter was named Opsibeena; She wore a small wig, and rode out on a pig, To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-lear/there-was-an-old-man-of-messina-whose-daughter-was-named-opsibeena/) [Edward Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-lear/) > [A real flame of love is a subtle thing. It burns as a will-o'-the-wisp, dancing onward to fairy lands of delight. It roars as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-dreiser/a-real-flame-of-love-is-a-subtle-thing-it-burns-as-a-will-o-the-wisp/) [Theodore Dreiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-dreiser/) > [“The gift of words, the source of enjoyment, the source of delight that comes within and the unfading beauty and energy of words.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euginia-herlihy/the-gift-of-words-the-source-of-enjoyment-the-source-of-delight-that/) [Euginia Herlihy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euginia-herlihy/) > [Benefits received are a delight to us as long as we think we can requite them; when that possibility is far exceeded, they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/benefits-received-are-a-delight-to-us-as-long-as-we-think-we-can/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [All the world's bravery that delights our eyes is but thy several liveries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-cowley/all-the-world-s-bravery-that-delights-our-eyes-is-but-thy-several/) [Abraham Cowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-cowley/) > [It might be lonelier Without the Loneliness - I’m so accustomed to my Fate - Perhaps the Other - Peace - Would interrupt the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/it-might-be-lonelier-without-the-loneliness-i-m-so-accustomed-to-my/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [Design should do the same thing in everyday life that art does when encountered: amaze us, scare us or delight us, but certainly open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-betsky/design-should-do-the-same-thing-in-everyday-life-that-art-does-when/) [Aaron Betsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-betsky/) > [My life shall be free and broad and great, and I will not be the slave to the sense delights which chained my ancient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/my-life-shall-be-free-and-broad-and-great-and-i-will-not-be-the-slave/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [Every natural power exhilarates; a true talent delights the possessor first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/every-natural-power-exhilarates-a-true-talent-delights-the-possessor/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If we are to define science, ... it does not consist so much in knowing, nor even in "organized knowledge," as it does in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sanders-peirce/if-we-are-to-define-science-it-does-not-consist-so-much-in-knowing/) [Charles Sanders Peirce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sanders-peirce/) > [Significantly, God in Genesis 1 pronounces the rest of creation "good" before humanity is created. The psalmist and the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-clapp/significantly-god-in-genesis-1-pronounces-the-rest-of-creation-good/) [Rodney Clapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-clapp/) > [Being asked to play 'The Doctor' is an amazing privilege. Like the Doctor himself I find myself in a state of utter terror and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/being-asked-to-play-the-doctor-is-an-amazing-privilege-like-the/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) [Browse all 2,212 Delight quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delight/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Either be a true friend or a mere stranger: a true friend will delight to do good--a mere stranger will do no harm.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Benjamin Whichcote" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/either-be-a-true-friend-or-a-mere-stranger-a-true-friend-will-delight/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Delight" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/either-be-a-true-friend-or-a-mere-stranger-a-true-friend-will-delight/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e3/benjamin-whichcote-7885_delight_either-be-a-true-friend-or-a-mere-strang_2538519.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e3/benjamin-whichcote-7885_delight_either-be-a-true-friend-or-a-mere-strang_2538519.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e3/benjamin-whichcote-7885_delight_either-be-a-true-friend-or-a-mere-strang_2538519.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Either be a true friend or a mere stranger: a true friend will delight to do good--a mere stranger will do…” — Benjamin Whichcote", "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 Whichcote", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Either be a true friend or...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/either-be-a-true-friend-or-a-mere-stranger-a-true-friend-will-delight/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/either-be-a-true-friend-or-a-mere-stranger-a-true-friend-will-delight/#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 } } ] } ```