Famous people Quote by Flann O'Brien
““Are your friends as good as MY friends? I can discern the nod of of assent but doubt it. My own friends are far better, they are famous people and they are all dead. Who, you may ask, are those friends of mine, and why are they dead? It is a fair question. They are dead because, had they lived, they would have died anyway from extreme old age and decrepitude.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Third Policeman, 1967
Friends are often idealized; even famous, dead friends are imagined as inevitable.
In simple terms: Friends are idealized, even in death.
Key Takeaway
Recognize realistic expectations of relationships.
Themes
friendship
mortality
idealization
humor
philosophy
Mood
witty
philosophical
Type
literary
social
When to use this quote
- personal reflection
- writing
- social critique
Key Concepts
existentialism
social perception
literary satire
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you view your friendships?
- What does mortality teach about relationships?
A Different Perspective
Idealizing friends can obscure true connections.
![“I am your soul and all your souls. When I am gone you are dead. Past humanity is not only implicit in each new man born but is contained in him,[...] All humanity from its beginning to its end is already present but the beam has not yet played beyond you! [...] You are not the top of your people's…” quote by Flann O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f2a/flann-o-brien-6916_soul_i-am-your-soul-and-all-your-souls-when-i_105303.jpg)
