---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: However rare true love may be, it is less…"
description: "\"However rare true love may be, it is less so than true friendship.\" — Francois de La Rochefoucauld"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99b/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_friend_however-rare-true-love-may-be-it-is-less_2866421.png"
---

#  However rare true love may be, it is less so than true…

![“However rare true love may be, it is less so than true friendship.” quote by Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99b/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_friend_however-rare-true-love-may-be-it-is-less_2866421.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99b/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_friend_however-rare-true-love-may-be-it-is-less_2866421.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99b/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_friend_however-rare-true-love-may-be-it-is-less_2866421.png)

> “However rare true love may be, it is less so than true friendship.”

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

True love is rarer than true friendship, implying that deep platonic bonds are more common than romantic love.

**In simple terms:** Friendship is more common than true love.

Key Takeaway

Value and nurture deep friendships.

Themes

friendship love rarity human connections

Mood

contemplative warm

Type

philosophical reflective

When to use this quote

- social circles
- long‑term relationships
- support networks

Key Concepts

philosophy social bonds emotional depth

Questions to Reflect On

- What distinguishes true love from deep friendship?
- How can friendships enrich life?

A Different Perspective

Romantic love may be idealized beyond reality.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friend/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [True friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-friendship/) [True love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-love/)

## Related quotes

> [“How rare true love maybe, it is less so than true friendship.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/how-rare-true-love-maybe-it-is-less-so-than-true-friendship/)

[François de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [Rare as true love is, true friendship is still rarer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/rare-as-true-love-is-true-friendship-is-still-rarer/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Rare as is true love, true friendship is rarer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-fontaine/rare-as-is-true-love-true-friendship-is-rarer/)

[Jean de La Fontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-fontaine/)

> [“As rare as true love actually is, true friendship is still harder to find.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-lloyd/as-rare-as-true-love-actually-is-true-friendship-is-still-harder-to/)

Jason Lloyd

> [However rare true love is, true friendship is rarer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/however-rare-true-love-is-true-friendship-is-rarer/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“True sorrow is as rare as true love. I'm”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/true-sorrow-is-as-rare-as-true-love-i-m/)

[Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/)

> [True sorrow is as rare as true love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/true-sorrow-is-as-rare-as-true-love/)

[Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/)

> [A true photographer is as rare as a true poet or a true painter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-cocteau/a-true-photographer-is-as-rare-as-a-true-poet-or-a-true-painter/)

[Jean Cocteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-cocteau/)

> [True friendship is devotion serving each other identifying one self with others sufferings just forgetting ones own wishes, own priorities and own body etc.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/true-friendship-is-devotion-serving-each-other-identifying-one-self/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [A true friendship quote comes out of your mind, because you know exactly what to say to your friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan/a-true-friendship-quote-comes-out-of-your-mind-because-you-know/)

[Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan/)

> [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/)

> [As uncommon a thing as true love is, it is yet easier to find than true friendship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/as-uncommon-a-thing-as-true-love-is-it-is-yet-easier-to-find-than/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [Envy is destroyed by true friendship, as coquetry by true love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/envy-is-destroyed-by-true-friendship-as-coquetry-by-true-love/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [“True love is still true, even if you can't live it the way you want to," I told her.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-j-walker-smith/true-love-is-still-true-even-if-you-can-t-live-it-the-way-you-want-to/)

[G.J. Walker-Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-j-walker-smith/)

> [“It was so much easier when I was young. You got a boyfriend, and you married him. You had some kids, you got older,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/it-was-so-much-easier-when-i-was-young-you-got-a-boyfriend-and-you/)

[Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/)

## More by Francois de La Rochefoucauld

> [Our own distrust gives a fair pretence for the knavery of other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/our-own-distrust-gives-a-fair-pretence-for-the-knavery-of-other-people/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [Behind many acts that are thought ridiculous there lie wise and weighty motives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/behind-many-acts-that-are-thought-ridiculous-there-lie-wise-and/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [“Passion often makes a madman of the cleverest man, and renders the greatest fools clever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/passion-often-makes-a-madman-of-the-cleverest-man-and-renders-the/)

[François de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [Perseverance is neither praiseworthy nor blameworthy; for it seems to be only the enduring of certain inclinations and opinions which men neither give themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/perseverance-is-neither-praiseworthy-nor-blameworthy-for-it-seems-to/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [A woman is faithful to her first lover for a long time - unless she happens to take a second.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/a-woman-is-faithful-to-her-first-lover-for-a-long-time-unless-she/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [We are almost always wearied in the company of persons with whom we are not permitted to be weary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-are-almost-always-wearied-in-the-company-of-persons-with-whom-we/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [The love of new acquaintance comes not so much from being weary of what we had before, or from any satisfaction there is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-love-of-new-acquaintance-comes-not-so-much-from-being-weary-of/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [It is sometimes necessary to play the fool to avoid being deceived by cunning men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/it-is-sometimes-necessary-to-play-the-fool-to-avoid-being-deceived-by/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [The intention of never deceiving often exposes us to deception.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-intention-of-never-deceiving-often-exposes-us-to-deception/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [Jealousy springs more from love of self than from love of another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/jealousy-springs-more-from-love-of-self-than-from-love-of-another/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [Our distrust of another justifies his deceit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/our-distrust-of-another-justifies-his-deceit/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [No persons are more frequently wrong, than those who will not admit they are wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/no-persons-are-more-frequently-wrong-than-those-who-will-not-admit/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [Jealousy is always born with love, but does not die with it. In jealousy there is more of self-love than of love to another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/jealousy-is-always-born-with-love-but-does-not-die-with-it-in/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [The greatest of all gifts is the power to estimate things at their true worth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-greatest-of-all-gifts-is-the-power-to-estimate-things-at-their/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [We have not strength enough to follow our reason so far as it would carry us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-have-not-strength-enough-to-follow-our-reason-so-far-as-it-would/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

[Explore all 1,134 Francois de La Rochefoucauld quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

## More Friend quotes

> [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/)

[Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/)

> [I gave my archive to Emory University because there's a really dear friend who teaches there, Rudolph Byrd, and he's the editor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/i-gave-my-archive-to-emory-university-because-there-s-a-really-dear/)

[Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/)

> [Friends are like stars you can't always see them, but you know they're there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unknwon/friends-are-like-stars-you-can-t-always-see-them-but-you-know-they-re/)

Unknwon

> [“But my best friend from college was silent for a long time. She, of all of my friends, had seen the parade of sad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-groff/but-my-best-friend-from-college-was-silent-for-a-long-time-she-of-all/)

[Lauren Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-groff/)

> [“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/)

> [No one is completely unhappy at the failure of his best friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/no-one-is-completely-unhappy-at-the-failure-of-his-best-friend/)

[Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/)

> [“The real purpose of friendship was to discover and exploit weakness in others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-thompson/the-real-purpose-of-friendship-was-to-discover-and-exploit-weakness/)

[Brian Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-thompson/)

> [That FRIEND who claim they do anything for you. but yet talk behind your back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kushsoulja/that-friend-who-claim-they-do-anything-for-you-but-yet-talk-behind/)

KushSoulja

> [In life, we never lose friends we only get to know who the true ones are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ace-kid/in-life-we-never-lose-friends-we-only-get-to-know-who-the-true-ones/)

[Ace Kid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ace-kid/)

> [“Before you were my enemy, you were my best friend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/before-you-were-my-enemy-you-were-my-best-friend/)

[Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/)

> [Sam dropped me off. When she was too far away to see me, I started to cry again. Because she was my friend again.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/sam-dropped-me-off-when-she-was-too-far-away-to-see-me-i-started-to/)

[Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/)

> [“When you get lost in a really strange place, nothing is more comforting than found your friend whom you trust and can show the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/when-you-get-lost-in-a-really-strange-place-nothing-is-more/)

[Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/)

> [Friendship, "the wine of life," should, like a well-stocked cellar, be continually renewed; and it is consolatory to think, that although we can seldom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-boswell/friendship-the-wine-of-life-should-like-a-well-stocked-cellar-be/)

[James Boswell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-boswell/)

> [I fell in love with my best friend, but I know that if it doesn't last, it will never be the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelly-yang/i-fell-in-love-with-my-best-friend-but-i-know-that-if-it-doesn-t-last/)

Shelly Yang

> [A best friend isn't someone who's just always there for you.Its someone who understands you a bit more than you understand yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/a-best-friend-isn-t-someone-who-s-just-always-there-for-you-its/)

[Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/)

[Browse all 14,984 Friend quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friend/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "However rare true love may be, it is less so than true friendship.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Francois de La Rochefoucauld"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/however-rare-true-love-may-be-it-is-less-so-than-true-friendship/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Friend"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/however-rare-true-love-may-be-it-is-less-so-than-true-friendship/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99b/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_friend_however-rare-true-love-may-be-it-is-less_2866421.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99b/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_friend_however-rare-true-love-may-be-it-is-less_2866421.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99b/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_friend_however-rare-true-love-may-be-it-is-less_2866421.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“However rare true love may be, it is less so than true friendship.” — Francois de La Rochefoucauld",
                "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": "Francois de La Rochefoucauld",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "However rare true love may be,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/however-rare-true-love-may-be-it-is-less-so-than-true-friendship/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/however-rare-true-love-may-be-it-is-less-so-than-true-friendship/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```