--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A word must become a friend or you will…" description: "\"A word must become a friend or you will not understand it. Perhaps you do well to be cool and detached when you are seeking information, but I remind y..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c1/edward-coke-11376_asking_a-word-must-become-a-friend-or-you-will_1071005.png" --- # A word must become a friend or you will not understand it… ![“A word must become a friend or you will not understand it. Perhaps you do well to be cool and detached when you are seeking information, but I remind you of the wife who complained, 'When I ask John if he loves me, he thinks I am asking for information'.” quote by Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c1/edward-coke-11376_asking_a-word-must-become-a-friend-or-you-will_1071005.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c1/edward-coke-11376_asking_a-word-must-become-a-friend-or-you-will_1071005.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c1/edward-coke-11376_asking_a-word-must-become-a-friend-or-you-will_1071005.png) > “A word must become a friend or you will not understand it. Perhaps you do well to be cool and detached when you are seeking information, but I remind you of the wife who complained, 'When I ask John if he loves me, he thinks I am asking for information'.” [Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Understanding language requires personal connection; treating words as allies aids comprehension. **In simple terms:** Treat words as friends to grasp them. Key Takeaway Build rapport with language. Themes communication learning interpretation Mood analytical thoughtful Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - studying - teaching - negotiation Key Concepts linguistics cognitive psychology metaphor Questions to Reflect On - Do you distance yourself from new terms? - How can you make words feel familiar? A Different Perspective Over‑detachment hinders deep understanding. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friend/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Wife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wife/) ## Related quotes > [“ You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. -John 14:14 ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/you-may-ask-me-for-anything-in-my-name-and-i-will-do-it-john-14-14/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [I do think digital media encourages speed-reading, which can be fine if one is simply seeking information. But a serious novel or work of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-dirda/i-do-think-digital-media-encourages-speed-reading-which-can-be-fine/) [Michael Dirda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-dirda/) > [In government and out, there are vast realms of the bureaucracy dedicated to seeking more information, in perpetuity if need be, in order to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-greenfield/in-government-and-out-there-are-vast-realms-of-the-bureaucracy/) [Meg Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-greenfield/) > [“Here's where things get hazy. John claims that the men hauling him away from the scene were escorted by other men carrying submachine guns,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wong/here-s-where-things-get-hazy-john-claims-that-the-men-hauling-him/) [David Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wong/) > [“How could he ever be her friend and not understand this very basic part of who she was? Would he have a friend who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-neely/how-could-he-ever-be-her-friend-and-not-understand-this-very-basic/) [Barbara Neely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-neely/) > [“Indeed! The time for mutual understanding is fresh and upon us. let us embrace it together, my friend. And should there be something you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tonny-k-brown/indeed-the-time-for-mutual-understanding-is-fresh-and-upon-us-let-us/) [Tonny K. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tonny-k-brown/) > [A friend is someone who understand your past, believes in your future, and accepts you today just the way you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-friend-is-someone-who-understand-your-past-believes-in-your-future/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A real friend can understand your felling. you are happy or sad.never minds you and in reality understands you more than your parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aman/a-real-friend-can-understand-your-felling-you-are-happy-or-sad-never/) [Aman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aman/) > [“A true friend is someone who understand your past, believes in your future, and accept you just the way you are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faith-comes-by-hearing/a-true-friend-is-someone-who-understand-your-past-believes-in-your/) Faith Comes By Hearing > [My friends, I have come to understand, see, are truly more often than not, only my friends, when they need me. I mind not,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nickel/my-friends-i-have-come-to-understand-see-are-truly-more-often-than/) [Eric Nickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nickel/) > [Sometimes in life you find a special friend,someone who understand and knows you, and even time kept them apart,and you know we have each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariane-corbito/sometimes-in-life-you-find-a-special-friend-someone-who-understand/) [Mariane Corbito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariane-corbito/) > [“It takes a long time to learn someone. It takes a long time to see a person as a whole spectrum, from worst to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emery-lord/it-takes-a-long-time-to-learn-someone-it-takes-a-long-time-to-see-a/) [Emery Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emery-lord/) > [A person is only complete when he has a true friend to understand him, to share all his passions and sorrows with, and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/a-person-is-only-complete-when-he-has-a-true-friend-to-understand-him/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [“A Friend who can never Understand your Need can never be your true friend Indeed”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-sundarraman/a-friend-who-can-never-understand-your-need-can-never-be-your-true/) [Abhishek Sundarraman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-sundarraman/) > [A person is only complete when she has a true friend to understand her, to share all her passions and sorrows with, and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-lynn/a-person-is-only-complete-when-she-has-a-true-friend-to-understand/) [J. Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-lynn/) ## More by Edward Coke > [Force ought to follow justice and not to precede.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/force-ought-to-follow-justice-and-not-to-precede/) [Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/) > [Corporations cannot commit treason, nor be outlawed, nor excommunicated, for they have no souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/corporations-cannot-commit-treason-nor-be-outlawed-nor-excommunicated/) [Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/) > [Everyone thirsteth after gaine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/everyone-thirsteth-after-gaine/) [Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/) > [A corporation has no soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/a-corporation-has-no-soul/) [Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/) > [The agreement of the parties cannot make that good which the law maketh void.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/the-agreement-of-the-parties-cannot-make-that-good-which-the-law/) [Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/) > [He is not cheated who knows he is being cheated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/he-is-not-cheated-who-knows-he-is-being-cheated/) [Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/) > [The house of every one is to him as his castle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/the-house-of-every-one-is-to-him-as-his-castle/) [Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/) > [The King himself should be under no man, but under God and the Law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/the-king-himself-should-be-under-no-man-but-under-god-and-the-law/) [Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/) > [It is better, saith the law, to suffer a mischief that is peculiar to one, than an inconvenience that may prejudice many.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/it-is-better-saith-the-law-to-suffer-a-mischief-that-is-peculiar-to/) [Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/) > [We have a saying in the House of Commons; that old ways are the safest and surest ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/we-have-a-saying-in-the-house-of-commons-that-old-ways-are-the-safest/) [Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/) > [Success in crime always invites to worse deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/success-in-crime-always-invites-to-worse-deeds/) [Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/) > [For when the law doth give any thing to one, it giveth impliedly whatsoever is necessary for the taking and enjoying of the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/for-when-the-law-doth-give-any-thing-to-one-it-giveth-impliedly/) [Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/) > [Things are worth what they will fetch at a sale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/things-are-worth-what-they-will-fetch-at-a-sale/) [Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/) > [The Common lawes of the Realme should by no means be delayed for the law is the surest sanctuary, that a man should take,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/the-common-lawes-of-the-realme-should-by-no-means-be-delayed-for-the/) [Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/) > [The cause ceasing, the effect ceases also](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/the-cause-ceasing-the-effect-ceases-also/) [Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/) [Explore all 60 Edward Coke quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/) ## More Asking quotes > [Why did Erich von Stronheim leave Germany? Why did Hitchcock leave England? If you were a director you'd like to work in Hollywood too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-polanski/why-did-erich-von-stronheim-leave-germany-why-did-hitchcock-leave/) [Roman Polanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-polanski/) > [And in your new lives you'll have to live entirely for that one sensation-that of imminent truth. And you're going to have to holler…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/and-in-your-new-lives-you-ll-have-to-live-entirely-for-that-one/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [“Stop asking yourself how or why and tell yourself you can." - Charmainism”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charmaine-smith-ladd/stop-asking-yourself-how-or-why-and-tell-yourself-you-can-charmainism/) [Charmaine Smith Ladd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charmaine-smith-ladd/) > [Closing his eyes, he sent up a prayer to anyone who was listening, asking please, for God's sake, stop sending him signals that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/closing-his-eyes-he-sent-up-a-prayer-to-anyone-who-was-listening/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [People will identify with a persecuted minority without asking themselves what they are identifying with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/people-will-identify-with-a-persecuted-minority-without-asking/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [If you're having a bad day already and everybody is just asking you petty questions, it drives people to the edge, or something really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-weixler/if-you-re-having-a-bad-day-already-and-everybody-is-just-asking-you/) [Jess Weixler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-weixler/) > [You never give away your heart; you lend it from time to time. If it were not so, how could we take it back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/you-never-give-away-your-heart-you-lend-it-from-time-to-time-if-it/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [I'm not asking people to feel sorry for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-abramoff/i-m-not-asking-people-to-feel-sorry-for-me/) [Jack Abramoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-abramoff/) > [The boldness of asking deep questions may require unforeseen flexibility if we are to accept the answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/the-boldness-of-asking-deep-questions-may-require-unforeseen/) [Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/) > [Use Google Before Asking A Stupid Question.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muskaan/use-google-before-asking-a-stupid-question/) [Muskaan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muskaan/) > [There were people asking 'Can women be funny?' People still ask that. It's like asking: 'Can women breathe in and out?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-walters/there-were-people-asking-can-women-be-funny-people-still-ask-that-it/) [Julie Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-walters/) > [Whether that's speaking up in your job or asking for a promotion or saying, 'I think I can do that.' Using your voice in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-shriver/whether-that-s-speaking-up-in-your-job-or-asking-for-a-promotion-or/) [Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/) > [Love cannot be had for the asking; it comes only as a gift from the heart of another](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/love-cannot-be-had-for-the-asking-it-comes-only-as-a-gift-from-the/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [The Baseball Hall of Fame is something every player dreams about, but being a member of God's Hall of Fame is the greatest achievement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-carter/the-baseball-hall-of-fame-is-something-every-player-dreams-about-but/) [Gary Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-carter/) > [“In such a regime, I say you died a good death if your life had inspired someone to come forward and shoot your murdered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/in-such-a-regime-i-say-you-died-a-good-death-if-your-life-had/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) Browse all 3,313 Asking quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A word must become a friend or you will not understand it. Perhaps you do well to be cool and detached when you are seeking information, but I remind you of the wife who complained, 'When I ask John if he loves me, he thinks I am asking for information'.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edward Coke" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/a-word-must-become-a-friend-or-you-will-not-understand-it-perhaps-you/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Asking" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/a-word-must-become-a-friend-or-you-will-not-understand-it-perhaps-you/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c1/edward-coke-11376_asking_a-word-must-become-a-friend-or-you-will_1071005.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c1/edward-coke-11376_asking_a-word-must-become-a-friend-or-you-will_1071005.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c1/edward-coke-11376_asking_a-word-must-become-a-friend-or-you-will_1071005.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A word must become a friend or you will not understand it. Perhaps you do well to be cool and detached when…” — Edward Coke", "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": "Edward Coke", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A word must become a friend...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/a-word-must-become-a-friend-or-you-will-not-understand-it-perhaps-you/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/a-word-must-become-a-friend-or-you-will-not-understand-it-perhaps-you/#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 } } ] } ```