--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A friend who is near and dear may in time…" description: "\"A friend who is near and dear may in time become as useless as a relative.\" — George Ade" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9de/george-ade-8718_best-friend_a-friend-who-is-near-and-dear-may-in-tim_2824356.jpg" --- # A friend who is near and dear may in time become as… ![“A friend who is near and dear may in time become as useless as a relative.” quote by George Ade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9de/george-ade-8718_best-friend_a-friend-who-is-near-and-dear-may-in-tim_2824356.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9de/george-ade-8718_best-friend_a-friend-who-is-near-and-dear-may-in-tim_2824356.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9de/george-ade-8718_best-friend_a-friend-who-is-near-and-dear-may-in-tim_2824356.jpg) > “A friend who is near and dear may in time become as useless as a relative.” [George Ade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-ade/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People close to us can become as unhelpful as distant relatives over time. **In simple terms:** Friends may become useless. Key Takeaway Value relationships that truly support you. Themes friendship dependence disappointment Mood reflective cautious Type advice observational When to use this quote - family gatherings - work teams - long‑term friendships - conflict resolution Key Concepts social utility relationship dynamics Questions to Reflect On - Who in your life offers genuine support? - How do you set boundaries with unhelpful friends? A Different Perspective Not all close ties are beneficial; some may hinder growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Best friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-friend/) [Friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friend/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Funny friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny-friend/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Uselessness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uselessness/) ## Related quotes > [This passion, and the death of a dear friend, would go near to make a man look sad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/this-passion-and-the-death-of-a-dear-friend-would-go-near-to-make-a/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [When you need someone to comfort you, a friend is near](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-need-someone-to-comfort-you-a-friend-is-near/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Always take quite time for yourself, or you will be useless for anyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/always-take-quite-time-for-yourself-or-you-will-be-useless-for-anyone/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Christianity is either relevant all the time or useless anytime. It is not just a phase of life; it is life itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-halverson/christianity-is-either-relevant-all-the-time-or-useless-anytime-it-is/) [Richard Halverson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-halverson/) > [The wisdom acquired with the passage of time is a useless gift unless you share it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-williams/the-wisdom-acquired-with-the-passage-of-time-is-a-useless-gift-unless/) [Esther Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-williams/) > [Friends are what God gives you to make up for your family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-white/friends-are-what-god-gives-you-to-make-up-for-your-family/) Bruce White > [At the shrine of friendship never say die, let the wine of friendship never run dry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/at-the-shrine-of-friendship-never-say-die-let-the-wine-of-friendship/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [You know when you have that one crazy funny friend that always make you question 'what is wrong with you?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-know-when-you-have-that-one-crazy-funny-friend-that-always-make/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Love is blind; friendship tries not to notice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-von-bismarck/love-is-blind-friendship-tries-not-to-notice/) [Otto von Bismarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-von-bismarck/) > [Why would anybody want a friend?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/why-would-anybody-want-a-friend/) [Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/) > [If you haven't learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven't learned anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/if-you-haven-t-learned-the-meaning-of-friendship-you-really-haven-t/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [I notice my wife when she's on the phone with her friends, man they will share every animate details of their lives with each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-foxworthy/i-notice-my-wife-when-she-s-on-the-phone-with-her-friends-man-they/) [Jeff Foxworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-foxworthy/) > [Money can't buy friends, but you can get a better class of enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-milligan/money-can-t-buy-friends-but-you-can-get-a-better-class-of-enemy/) [Spike Milligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-milligan/) > [What I know for sure is that if you can survive 11 days in cramped quarters with a friend and come out laughing, your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/what-i-know-for-sure-is-that-if-you-can-survive-11-days-in-cramped/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [I have a lot of funny friends, though not everyone's funny all the time. Doon Mackichan's my funniest friend in the pub; Nina Conti's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-phillips/i-have-a-lot-of-funny-friends-though-not-everyone-s-funny-all-the/) [Sally Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-phillips/) ## More by George Ade > [A bird in the hand may be worth two in the bush, but remember also that a bird in the hand is a positive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-ade/a-bird-in-the-hand-may-be-worth-two-in-the-bush-but-remember-also/) [George Ade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-ade/) > [Scatter seeds of kindness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-ade/scatter-seeds-of-kindness/) [George Ade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-ade/) > [A rose by any other name would smell as sweet, but would not cost half as much during the winter months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-ade/a-rose-by-any-other-name-would-smell-as-sweet-but-would-not-cost-half/) [George Ade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-ade/) > [Opportunity knocks once at every man's door and then keeps on knocking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-ade/opportunity-knocks-once-at-every-man-s-door-and-then-keeps-on-knocking/) [George Ade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-ade/) > [Moral: Don't try to Account for Anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-ade/moral-don-t-try-to-account-for-anything/) [George Ade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-ade/) > [The higher they fly the harder they fall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-ade/the-higher-they-fly-the-harder-they-fall/) [George Ade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-ade/) > [“Whom are you?” said he, for he had been to night school.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-ade/whom-are-you-said-he-for-he-had-been-to-night-school/) [George Ade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-ade/) > [The serpent is helpless unless he finds an apple to work with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-ade/the-serpent-is-helpless-unless-he-finds-an-apple-to-work-with/) [George Ade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-ade/) > [I got the breaks. Starting from nowhere in the corn belt, I helped edit a country weekly, then was jack-of-all-departments on an obscure daily,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-ade/i-got-the-breaks-starting-from-nowhere-in-the-corn-belt-i-helped-edit/) [George Ade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-ade/) > [Those who have tried meekness know the importance of being important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-ade/those-who-have-tried-meekness-know-the-importance-of-being-important/) [George Ade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-ade/) > [Never pretend to have money except when you are in straits. The poor man who pretends to have a bank account betters his credit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-ade/never-pretend-to-have-money-except-when-you-are-in-straits-the-poor/) [George Ade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-ade/) > [As the twig is bent the tree is inclined.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-ade/as-the-twig-is-bent-the-tree-is-inclined/) [George Ade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-ade/) > [Moral: It all depends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-ade/moral-it-all-depends/) [George Ade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-ade/) > [“In the city a funeral is just an interruption of traffic; in the country it is a form of entertainment. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-ade/in-the-city-a-funeral-is-just-an-interruption-of-traffic-in-the/) [George Ade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-ade/) > [Nothing is improbable until it moves into past tense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-ade/nothing-is-improbable-until-it-moves-into-past-tense/) [George Ade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-ade/) [Explore all 78 George Ade quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-ade/) ## More Best friend quotes > [“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/) > [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/) > [“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/) > [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/) > [Back home I get to see my old friends!(: But they don't understand the change in me and I can't explain it to them...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade/back-home-i-get-to-see-my-old-friends-but-they-don-t-understand-the/) [Jade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade/) > [This goes out to someone that was Once the most important person in my life I didn't realize it at the time I can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aviation/this-goes-out-to-someone-that-was-once-the-most-important-person-in/) Aviation > [You’re crazy,” said her best friend, Angela, as the bell rang to signal five minutes before the first class on the first day back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/you-re-crazy-said-her-best-friend-angela-as-the-bell-rang-to-signal/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [Sometimes the right people can make your day. They're called best friends :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/sometimes-the-right-people-can-make-your-day-they-re-called-best/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [Here is your third gift from Me once again..I had a fourth gift it was about me making a video telling you how much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilbear/here-is-your-third-gift-from-me-once-again-i-had-a-fourth-gift-it-was/) [LilBear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilbear/) > [Our friendship is like a cup of tea¦a special blend of you and me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orebela-gbenga/our-friendship-is-like-a-cup-of-tea-a-special-blend-of-you-and-me/) [Orebela Gbenga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orebela-gbenga/) > [When you have the most beautiful best friend in the world what more could I ask for I love you Tay :) you mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick/when-you-have-the-most-beautiful-best-friend-in-the-world-what-more/) [Nick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick/) > [I believe in God, because he is the only thing that kept me going. He's my best friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-hahn/i-believe-in-god-because-he-is-the-only-thing-that-kept-me-going-he-s/) [Jessica Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-hahn/) > [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/) > [A Real Man will help build his woman's self esteem not break it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-s-voice/a-real-man-will-help-build-his-woman-s-self-esteem-not-break-it/) Lisa's Voice [Browse all 6,524 Best friend quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-friend/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A friend who is near and dear may in time become as useless as a relative.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "George Ade" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-ade/a-friend-who-is-near-and-dear-may-in-time-become-as-useless-as-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Best friend" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-ade/a-friend-who-is-near-and-dear-may-in-time-become-as-useless-as-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9de/george-ade-8718_best-friend_a-friend-who-is-near-and-dear-may-in-tim_2824356.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9de/george-ade-8718_best-friend_a-friend-who-is-near-and-dear-may-in-tim_2824356.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9de/george-ade-8718_best-friend_a-friend-who-is-near-and-dear-may-in-tim_2824356.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A friend who is near and dear may in time become as useless as a relative.” — George Ade", "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": "George Ade", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-ade/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A friend who is near and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-ade/a-friend-who-is-near-and-dear-may-in-time-become-as-useless-as-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-ade/a-friend-who-is-near-and-dear-may-in-time-become-as-useless-as-a/#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 } } ] } ```