--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You want a friend in Washington? Get a dog." description: "\"You want a friend in Washington? Get a dog.\" — Harry S Truman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7de/harry-s-truman-2-7445_animal_you-want-a-friend-in-washington-get-a-do_2473739.png" --- # You want a friend in Washington? Get a dog. ![“You want a friend in Washington? Get a dog.” quote by Harry S Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7de/harry-s-truman-2-7445_animal_you-want-a-friend-in-washington-get-a-do_2473739.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7de/harry-s-truman-2-7445_animal_you-want-a-friend-in-washington-get-a-do_2473739.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7de/harry-s-truman-2-7445_animal_you-want-a-friend-in-washington-get-a-do_2473739.png) > “You want a friend in Washington? Get a dog.” [Harry S Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman-2/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Suggests that a loyal pet can serve as a reliable ally in political environments, offering companionship and protection. **In simple terms:** A dog can be a trustworthy friend in Washington. Key Takeaway Consider the value of loyal companionship in high‑pressure settings. Themes politics trust companionship Mood lighthearted reflective Type anecdotal motivational When to use this quote - political networking - stressful negotiations - personal downtime Key Concepts loyalty support systems emotional intelligence Questions to Reflect On - Can a pet truly influence political decisions? - How does companionship affect leadership effectiveness? A Different Perspective A dog cannot replace human alliances or policy expertise. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Dog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dog/) [Friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friend/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/washington/) ## Related quotes > [If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman-2/if-you-want-a-friend-in-washington-get-a-dog/) [Harry S Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman-2/) > [If you want a friend in Washington, buy a dog.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/if-you-want-a-friend-in-washington-buy-a-dog/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [In Washington, it's dog eat dog. In academia, it's exactly the opposite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/in-washington-it-s-dog-eat-dog-in-academia-it-s-exactly-the-opposite/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [“Harry Truman’s line that if you want a friend in Washington, buy a dog.)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-gates/harry-truman-s-line-that-if-you-want-a-friend-in-washington-buy-a-dog/) [Robert M. Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-gates/) > [“You say you just want to be my friend. I know that you mean you want to relate to my mind but not my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/you-say-you-just-want-to-be-my-friend-i-know-that-you-mean-you-want/) [Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/) > [ “You want a friend in this city? \[Washington, DC.\] Get a dog!” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/you-want-a-friend-in-this-city-washington-dc-get-a-dog/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [If I could give advice to seven-year-old Greta, it would be: Be kind to yourself. Spend less time trying to be pretty and cool.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-lee/if-i-could-give-advice-to-seven-year-old-greta-it-would-be-be-kind-to/) [Greta Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-lee/) > [I don't want a boyfriend. I want a friend with whom I can be myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tejaswi-madivada/i-don-t-want-a-boyfriend-i-want-a-friend-with-whom-i-can-be-myself/) [Tejaswi Madivada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tejaswi-madivada/) > [Christmas is an invitation by God to say: Look what I've done to come near to you. Now draw near to me...I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/christmas-is-an-invitation-by-god-to-say-look-what-i-ve-done-to-come/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [I think in friendship, you want to be there for your friend, and sometimes you just don't know what to do or the relationship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-cotillard/i-think-in-friendship-you-want-to-be-there-for-your-friend-and/) [Marion Cotillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-cotillard/) > [I had a lot of those fake friends. You just have to realize it's happening. 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I am your friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/i-don-t-want-to-be-your-friend-baby-i-am-your-friend/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [My friends call me by my name." "You don't have any friends." "I don't want you to be my friend, Selia, or my servant,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/my-friends-call-me-by-my-name-you-don-t-have-any-friends-i-don-t-want/) [Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/) ## More by Harry S Truman > [A statesman is a politician who has been dead ten or fifteen years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman-2/a-statesman-is-a-politician-who-has-been-dead-ten-or-fifteen-years/) [Harry S Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman-2/) > [We're going to be buried out here. I like the idea because I may just want to get up some day and stroll into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman-2/we-re-going-to-be-buried-out-here-i-like-the-idea-because-i-may-just/) [Harry S Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman-2/) > [Most of the problems a President has to face have their roots in the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman-2/most-of-the-problems-a-president-has-to-face-have-their-roots-in-the/) [Harry S Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman-2/) > [I've said many a time that I think the Un-American Activities Committee in the House of Representatives was the most un-American thing in America!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman-2/i-ve-said-many-a-time-that-i-think-the-un-american-activities/) [Harry S Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman-2/) > [We shall never be able to remove suspicion and fear as potential causes of war until communication is permitted to flow, free and open,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman-2/we-shall-never-be-able-to-remove-suspicion-and-fear-as-potential/) [Harry S Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman-2/) > [Intense feeling too often obscures the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman-2/intense-feeling-too-often-obscures-the-truth/) [Harry S Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman-2/) > [It is understanding that gives us an ability to have peace. When we understand the other fellow's viewpoint, and he understands ours, then we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman-2/it-is-understanding-that-gives-us-an-ability-to-have-peace-when-we/) [Harry S Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman-2/) > [Whenever you put a man on the Supreme Court he ceases to be your friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman-2/whenever-you-put-a-man-on-the-supreme-court-he-ceases-to-be-your/) [Harry S Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman-2/) > [It sure is hell to be president.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman-2/it-sure-is-hell-to-be-president/) [Harry S Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman-2/) > [I would rather have peace in the world than be President.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman-2/i-would-rather-have-peace-in-the-world-than-be-president/) [Harry S Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman-2/) > [The only things worth learning are the things you learn after you know it all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman-2/the-only-things-worth-learning-are-the-things-you-learn-after-you/) [Harry S Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman-2/) > [You can never get all the facts from just one newspaper, and unless you have all the facts, you cannot make proper judgements about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman-2/you-can-never-get-all-the-facts-from-just-one-newspaper-and-unless/) [Harry S Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman-2/) > [In reading the lives of great men, I found that the first victory they won was over themselves... self-discipline with all of them came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman-2/in-reading-the-lives-of-great-men-i-found-that-the-first-victory-they/) [Harry S Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman-2/) > [A politician is a man who understands government. A statesman is a politician who's been dead for 15 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman-2/a-politician-is-a-man-who-understands-government-a-statesman-is-a/) [Harry S Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman-2/) > [Experience has shown how deeply the seeds of war are planted by economic rivalry and social injustice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman-2/experience-has-shown-how-deeply-the-seeds-of-war-are-planted-by/) [Harry S Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman-2/) [Explore all 91 Harry S Truman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman-2/) ## More Animal quotes > [I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. 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The idea is ludicrous, if it is not monstrous. 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