--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Friendship is first, Friendship last. But…" description: "\"“Friendship is first, Friendship last. But it is equally impossible to forget our Friends, and to make them answer to our ideal. When they say farewell..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83c/henry-david-thoreau-20_friendship_friendship-is-first-friendship-last-but_293905.jpg" --- # Friendship is first, Friendship last. But it is equally… ![“Friendship is first, Friendship last. But it is equally impossible to forget our Friends, and to make them answer to our ideal. When they say farewell, then indeed we begin to keep them company. How often we find ourselves turning our backs on our actual Friends, that we may go and meet their…” quote by Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83c/henry-david-thoreau-20_friendship_friendship-is-first-friendship-last-but_293905.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83c/henry-david-thoreau-20_friendship_friendship-is-first-friendship-last-but_293905.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83c/henry-david-thoreau-20_friendship_friendship-is-first-friendship-last-but_293905.jpg) > ““Friendship is first, Friendship last. But it is equally impossible to forget our Friends, and to make them answer to our ideal. When they say farewell, then indeed we begin to keep them company. How often we find ourselves turning our backs on our actual Friends, that we may go and meet their ideal cousins. I would that I were worthy to be any man's Friend.”” [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Friendship demands both presence and accountability; neglecting true friends for idealized versions erodes genuine connection. **In simple terms:** True friends need both presence and responsibility. Key Takeaway Cherish and hold friends accountable. Themes friendship accountability authenticity Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal relationships - community building - conflict resolution Key Concepts social bonds moral duty self‑reflection Questions to Reflect On - Are you valuing true friends over imagined ideals? - How can you balance loyalty and honesty? A Different Perspective Idealizing others can distract from real support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Forget Friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forget-friends-1286300/) [Friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friend/) [Friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friends/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Friendship Equally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship-equally-2821796/) [Friendship Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship-friendship-462962/) [Impossible to forget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impossible-to-forget/) ## Related quotes > [It is equally impossible to forget our Friends, and to make them answer to our ideal. When they say farewell, then indeed we beginto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/it-is-equally-impossible-to-forget-our-friends-and-to-make-them/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Of what use the friendliest disposition even, if there are no hours given to Friendship, if it is forever postponed to unimportant duties and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/of-what-use-the-friendliest-disposition-even-if-there-are-no-hours/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The Solutide is to be disitute of sincere freindship Moving on is simple; what you leave behind, that makes it difficult. - Unknown A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sweetangelunknown/the-solutide-is-to-be-disitute-of-sincere-freindship-moving-on-is/) [SweetangelUnknown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sweetangelunknown/) > [When you get into a relationship don't forget about your friends, family or other important things in your life or you'll lose yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/when-you-get-into-a-relationship-don-t-forget-about-your-friends/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [When you're in a relationship never forget about your friends, because when your relationship ends your friends will have forgot about you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-re-in-a-relationship-never-forget-about-your-friends-because/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Conversation with a friend will only bear good fruit of knowledge when both think only of the matter under consideration and forget that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/conversation-with-a-friend-will-only-bear-good-fruit-of-knowledge/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Can't forget your fam, can't forget your friends on the road to glory. Cause it's easiest guy put them in your life, they could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirko-bangz/can-t-forget-your-fam-can-t-forget-your-friends-on-the-road-to-glory/) [Kirko Bangz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirko-bangz/) > [Never forget your friends when you're in a relationship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-forget-your-friends-when-you-re-in-a-relationship/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You meet people who forget you. You forget people you meet. But sometimes you meet those people you cant forget. Those are your friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bilal/you-meet-people-who-forget-you-you-forget-people-you-meet-but-2/) [Bilal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bilal/) > [So they, who climb to wealth,forget The friends in darker fortunestried. I copied thembut I regret That I should ape the ways ofpride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/so-they-who-climb-to-wealth-forget-the-friends-in-darker/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You have to fight to keep your friends, it's not something that you just get then forget friends are there for your ups and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francisco-cortes/you-have-to-fight-to-keep-your-friends-it-s-not-something-that-you/) [Francisco Cortes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francisco-cortes/) > [For soon, very soon do men forget Their friends upon whom Death's seal is set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-hubbel-chapin/for-soon-very-soon-do-men-forget-their-friends-upon-whom-death-s-seal/) [Edwin Hubbel Chapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-hubbel-chapin/) > [Never Forget Your FRIENDS,.When You Are In A RELATIONSHIP.. They've Always Been There For You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/never-forget-your-friends-when-you-are-in-a-relationship-they-ve/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [You meet people who forget you. You forget people you meet. But sometimes you meet those people you can't forget. Those are your 'friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-meet-people-who-forget-you-you-forget-people-you-meet-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'll never forget my friends and where I came from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romario/i-ll-never-forget-my-friends-and-where-i-came-from/) [Romario](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romario/) ## More by Henry David Thoreau > [If ever I did a man any goodof course it was something exceptional and insignificant compared with the good or evil which I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-ever-i-did-a-man-any-goodof-course-it-was-something-exceptional/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/our-inventions-are-wont-to-be-pretty-toys-which-distract-our/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“Men say they know many things; But lo! they have taken wings, — The arts and sciences, And a thousand appliances; The wind that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/men-say-they-know-many-things-but-lo-they-have-taken-wings-the-arts/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I am not afraid of praise, for I have practiced it on myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-am-not-afraid-of-praise-for-i-have-practiced-it-on-myself/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“All voting is a sort of gaming, like checkers or back gammon, with a slight moral tinge to it, a playing with right and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/all-voting-is-a-sort-of-gaming-like-checkers-or-back-gammon-with-a/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“This spending of the best part of one's life earning money in order to enjoy a questionable liberty during the least valuable part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/this-spending-of-the-best-part-of-one-s-life-earning-money-in-order/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [A traveler who looks at things with an impartial eye may see what the oldest inhabitant has not observed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/a-traveler-who-looks-at-things-with-an-impartial-eye-may-see-what-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [In proportion as our inward life fails, we go more constantly and desperately to the post office. You may depend on it, that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/in-proportion-as-our-inward-life-fails-we-go-more-constantly-and/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I had three chairs in my house; one for solitude, two for friendship, three for society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-had-three-chairs-in-my-house-one-for-solitude-two-for-friendship/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The still youthful energies of the globe have only to be directed in their proper channel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-still-youthful-energies-of-the-globe-have-only-to-be-directed-in/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Concord's little arch does not span all our fate, nor is what transpires under it law for the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/concord-s-little-arch-does-not-span-all-our-fate-nor-is-what/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The lumberers rarely trouble themselves to put out their fires, such is the dampness of the primitive forest; and this is one cause, no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-lumberers-rarely-trouble-themselves-to-put-out-their-fires-such/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“When he has obtained those things which are necessary to life, there is another alternative than to obtain the superfluities; and that is, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/when-he-has-obtained-those-things-which-are-necessary-to-life-there/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Wealth is measured by the level of experience in all aspects of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/wealth-is-measured-by-the-level-of-experience-in-all-aspects-of-life/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) [Explore all 3,376 Henry David Thoreau quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "“Friendship is first, Friendship last. 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