--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Is there some lesson on how to be…" description: "\"“Is there some lesson on how to be friends? I think what it means is that central to living A life that is good is a life that's forgiving. We're creat..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1f/david-rakoff-3308_forgiving_is-there-some-lesson-on-how-to-be-friend_135123.png" --- # Is there some lesson on how to be friends? I think what it… ![“Is there some lesson on how to be friends? I think what it means is that central to living A life that is good is a life that's forgiving. We're creatures of contact, regardless of whether to kiss or to wound, we still must come together.” quote by David Rakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1f/david-rakoff-3308_forgiving_is-there-some-lesson-on-how-to-be-friend_135123.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1f/david-rakoff-3308_forgiving_is-there-some-lesson-on-how-to-be-friend_135123.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1f/david-rakoff-3308_forgiving_is-there-some-lesson-on-how-to-be-friend_135123.png) > ““Is there some lesson on how to be friends? I think what it means is that central to living A life that is good is a life that's forgiving. We're creatures of contact, regardless of whether to kiss or to wound, we still must come together.”” [David Rakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rakoff/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Friendship requires forgiveness and connection, acknowledging both affection and harm as part of human interaction. **In simple terms:** Being friends means forgiving and staying connected. Key Takeaway Practice forgiveness to strengthen bonds. Themes friendship forgiveness human connection Mood reflective empathetic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - conflict resolution - community building - personal growth Key Concepts compassion interdependence Questions to Reflect On - What does it mean to truly forgive? - How can we balance honesty with compassion? A Different Perspective Forgiveness can be difficult when hurt is deep. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Forgiving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiving/) [Forgiving Creatures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiving-creatures-1433998/) [Friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friend/) [Friends Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friends-think-280098/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Lesson Friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lesson-friends-1540592/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Forgiving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-forgiving-1433997/) [Living a life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living-a-life/) ## Related quotes > [“Is there some lesson on how to be friends? I think what it means is that central to living A life that is good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rakoff/is-there-some-lesson-on-how-to-be-friends-i-think-what-it-means-is-3/) [David Rakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rakoff/) > [Central to living a life that is good is a life that's forgiving. We're creatures of contact, regardless of whether we kiss or we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rakoff/central-to-living-a-life-that-is-good-is-a-life-that-s-forgiving-we/) [David Rakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rakoff/) > [“So what can we learn from their watery ends? Is there some lesson on how to be friends? I think what it means is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rakoff/so-what-can-we-learn-from-their-watery-ends-is-there-some-lesson-on/) [David Rakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rakoff/) > [Is there some lesson on how to be friends? I think what it means is that central to living a life that is good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rakoff/is-there-some-lesson-on-how-to-be-friends-i-think-what-it-means-is/) [David Rakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rakoff/) > [Central to living a life that is good, is a life that's forgiving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rakoff/central-to-living-a-life-that-is-good-is-a-life-that-s-forgiving/) [David Rakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rakoff/) > [He's not going to look back if you don't,' he said, 'They're the most forgiving creatures God ever made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-evans/he-s-not-going-to-look-back-if-you-don-t-he-said-they-re-the-most/) [Nicholas Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-evans/) > [I spoke to a girl today who had cancer and we were talking about how this is such a hard thing for her, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-kardashian/i-spoke-to-a-girl-today-who-had-cancer-and-we-were-talking-about-how/) [Kim Kardashian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-kardashian/) > [Forgiving ourselves for all the woulda-shoulda-couldas in life, and sometimes forgiving others for actions that we feel undercut or undermine our good, can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/forgiving-ourselves-for-all-the-woulda-shoulda-couldas-in-life-and/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [“Here’s the thing, though: forgiving the asshole isn’t for their well-being, it’s for yours. If you can’t forgive the things that have been done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-michaels/here-s-the-thing-though-forgiving-the-asshole-isn-t-for-their-well/) [Jillian Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-michaels/) > [“Life is forgiving. Every experience, failed or successful, is never wasted. All the time spent does work towards a final goal, some known and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/savi-sharma/life-is-forgiving-every-experience-failed-or-successful-is-never/) [Savi Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/savi-sharma/) > [“We can enhance our life by forgiving our self and others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kishore-bansal/we-can-enhance-our-life-by-forgiving-our-self-and-others/) [Kishore Bansal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kishore-bansal/) > [Life is all about forgiving and forgetting. Forgiving the ones who are worth it...and FORGETTING the ones who aren't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/life-is-all-about-forgiving-and-forgetting-forgiving-the-ones-who-are/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [The Lord is forgiving, but sometimes life is not forgiving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/the-lord-is-forgiving-but-sometimes-life-is-not-forgiving/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [When a spouse or family member has wronged us or let us down it is important to try hard to resolve the matter &…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mufti-ismail-menk/when-a-spouse-or-family-member-has-wronged-us-or-let-us-down-it-is/) [Mufti Ismail Menk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mufti-ismail-menk/) > [Best friends: they know you better than you know yourself. Friends: they think they know you better than yourself. Best friends: you can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/best-friends-they-know-you-better-than-you-know-yourself-friends-they/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by David Rakoff > [“The hiking boots the outdoor adventure magazine sent me to buy - large, ungainly potato like things that I have been trying to break…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rakoff/the-hiking-boots-the-outdoor-adventure-magazine-sent-me-to-buy-large/) [david rakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rakoff/) > [Is there some lesson on how to be friends? I think what it means is that central to living a life that is good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rakoff/is-there-some-lesson-on-how-to-be-friends-i-think-what-it-means-is/) [David Rakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rakoff/) > [“We are disclosing animals, wired for unburdening. It's what we do as a species. When I am being told, I listen, mindful of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rakoff/we-are-disclosing-animals-wired-for-unburdening-it-s-what-we-do-as-a/) [David Rakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rakoff/) > [“Details can change or go missing entirely, particularly in moments of physical peril. A kind of amnesia goes hand in hand with sickness, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rakoff/details-can-change-or-go-missing-entirely-particularly-in-moments-of/) [David Rakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rakoff/) > [“The central drama of my life is about being a fraud, alas. That's a complete lie, really; the central drama of my life is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rakoff/the-central-drama-of-my-life-is-about-being-a-fraud-alas-that-s-a/) [David Rakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rakoff/) > [I am going to the bad place, as is my wont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rakoff/i-am-going-to-the-bad-place-as-is-my-wont/) [David Rakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rakoff/) > [The only thing that makes one an artist is making art. And that requires the precise opposite of hanging out; a deeply lonely and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rakoff/the-only-thing-that-makes-one-an-artist-is-making-art-and-that/) [David Rakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rakoff/) > [I will forever be grateful to my oncologist for opening the door and saying, 'Damn it, the tumor's 10 percent bigger,' before he even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rakoff/i-will-forever-be-grateful-to-my-oncologist-for-opening-the-door-and/) [David Rakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rakoff/) > [“It was nice to find out, then, that if one is characterologically incapable of not being a total fuckface, science has not shown you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rakoff/it-was-nice-to-find-out-then-that-if-one-is-characterologically/) [David Rakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rakoff/) > [People are really trying their best. Just like being happy and sad, you will find yourself on both sides of the equation many times…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rakoff/people-are-really-trying-their-best-just-like-being-happy-and-sad-you/) [David Rakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rakoff/) > [“One day reach idealization; after all, it's the journey, not the destination.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rakoff/one-day-reach-idealization-after-all-it-s-the-journey-not-the/) [David Rakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rakoff/) > [“It was turning out to be an anxious Christmas season. Too many were the early mornings spent sitting at the table, insomniac in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rakoff/it-was-turning-out-to-be-an-anxious-christmas-season-too-many-were/) [David Rakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rakoff/) > [“The best=laid plans, one's most fastidious contingency strategies have revealed themselves in the cold light of day to be laughably inadequate, no match for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rakoff/the-best-laid-plans-one-s-most-fastidious-contingency-strategies-have/) [David Rakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rakoff/) > [Unfortunately, there's no greater rhyme or reason as to why it would be me. And since there is no answer as to why me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rakoff/unfortunately-there-s-no-greater-rhyme-or-reason-as-to-why-it-would/) [David Rakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rakoff/) > [“But even this gives rise to another central tenet, attendant to the Comedy Is Good myth: Comedy Is Hard. Certainly well-rendered comedy is hard.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rakoff/but-even-this-gives-rise-to-another-central-tenet-attendant-to-the/) [David Rakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rakoff/) [Explore all 134 David Rakoff quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rakoff/) ## More Forgiving quotes > [When the Lord Jesus Christ became my surety . . . He went to Calvary's cross, and all my guilt was charged against Him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-allen-ironside/when-the-lord-jesus-christ-became-my-surety-he-went-to-calvary-s/) [Henry Allen Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-allen-ironside/) > [Forgive me for noting that conservatives seem to believe that the rich will work harder if we give them more, and the poor will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-j-dionne/forgive-me-for-noting-that-conservatives-seem-to-believe-that-the/) [E. J. Dionne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-j-dionne/) > [Forgive us our trespasses," says Margarethe, "and get out of our way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/forgive-us-our-trespasses-says-margarethe-and-get-out-of-our-way/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [Forgive yourself for not being the richest, the thinnest, the tallest, the one with the best hair. Forgive yourself for not being the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/forgive-yourself-for-not-being-the-richest-the-thinnest-the-tallest/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [If you can't forgive and forget, pick only one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-brault/if-you-can-t-forgive-and-forget-pick-only-one/) [Robert Brault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-brault/) > [If somebody tells you 'History will never forgive you,' just laugh at him! Because when the history comes, you won't be here! The threat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/if-somebody-tells-you-history-will-never-forgive-you-just-laugh-at/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [More courage is required to forgive than is required to take up arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ramos-horta/more-courage-is-required-to-forgive-than-is-required-to-take-up-arms/) [Jose Ramos-Horta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ramos-horta/) > [The world around us is an increasingly hostile and sinful place. Occasionally that splashes onto us, and perhaps, in the case of a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-world-around-us-is-an-increasingly-hostile-and-sinful-place/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [I know I'm more forgiving than most African Americans when it comes to second chances for White people who not only commit a racial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-capehart/i-know-i-m-more-forgiving-than-most-african-americans-when-it-comes/) [Jonathan Capehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-capehart/) > [The most important thing about being a father is being able to forgive yourself. If you don't forgive yourself, you're not going to forgive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/the-most-important-thing-about-being-a-father-is-being-able-to/) [Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/) > [The more you rejoice in your own forgiveness, the quicker you will be to forgive others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/the-more-you-rejoice-in-your-own-forgiveness-the-quicker-you-will-be/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [He was a lovely man in many ways. But he kept on insisting on forgiving me when there was nothing to forgive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-carter/he-was-a-lovely-man-in-many-ways-but-he-kept-on-insisting-on/) [Angela Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-carter/) > [The Bible says forgive your debtors; the world says "sue them for their dough."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-sunday/the-bible-says-forgive-your-debtors-the-world-says-sue-them-for-their/) [Billy Sunday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-sunday/) > [Forgiving the men who killed my parents and brother was a process, a journey into deeper and deeper prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immaculee-ilibagiza/forgiving-the-men-who-killed-my-parents-and-brother-was-a-process-a/) [Immaculee Ilibagiza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immaculee-ilibagiza/) > [Women will forgive anything. Otherwise, the race would have died out long ago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/women-will-forgive-anything-otherwise-the-race-would-have-died-out/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) [Browse all 2,717 Forgiving quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiving/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Is there some lesson on how to be friends? I think what it means is that central to living A life that is good is a life that's forgiving. 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