--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A sympathetic friend can be quite as dear…" description: "\"A sympathetic friend can be quite as dear as a brother.\" — Homer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ed/homer-357_brother_a-sympathetic-friend-can-be-quite-as-dea_1757651.png" --- # A sympathetic friend can be quite as dear as a brother. ![“A sympathetic friend can be quite as dear as a brother.” quote by Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ed/homer-357_brother_a-sympathetic-friend-can-be-quite-as-dea_1757651.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ed/homer-357_brother_a-sympathetic-friend-can-be-quite-as-dea_1757651.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ed/homer-357_brother_a-sympathetic-friend-can-be-quite-as-dea_1757651.png) > “A sympathetic friend can be quite as dear as a brother.” [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A true friend offers support and affection comparable to that of a sibling. **In simple terms:** A close friend can feel like family. Key Takeaway Value deep friendships. Themes relationships loyalty family Mood warm reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - family gatherings - conflict resolution - mental health care Key Concepts emotional support trust bonding social networks Questions to Reflect On - Who in your life feels like a sibling? - How do you nurture such friendships? A Different Perspective Friendships may lack legal obligations of family. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brother/) [Brotherhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brotherhood/) [Friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friend/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Sympathetic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sympathetic/) [Sympathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sympathy/) ## Related quotes > [At every crisis in one's life, it is absolute salvation to have some sympathetic friend to whom you can think aloud without restraint or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/at-every-crisis-in-one-s-life-it-is-absolute-salvation-to-have-some/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [My dear brother, never allow a woman to hold all of the cards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/my-dear-brother-never-allow-a-woman-to-hold-all-of-the-cards/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [My dear brother Barack Obama has a certain fear of free black men. As a young brother who grows up in a white context,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/my-dear-brother-barack-obama-has-a-certain-fear-of-free-black-men-as/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [You must be strong, dear brothers and sisters. You must be strong with the strength that comes from faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-john-paul-ii/you-must-be-strong-dear-brothers-and-sisters-you-must-be-strong-with/) [Pope John Paul II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-john-paul-ii/) > [Dread is a sympathetic antipathy and an antipathetic sympathy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/dread-is-a-sympathetic-antipathy-and-an-antipathetic-sympathy/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [“Comfort came in and stood with an appearance of guilt and shame. Her head bent, her eyes soaked with tears, her hands and legs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/comfort-came-in-and-stood-with-an-appearance-of-guilt-and-shame-her/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [I don't try to kind of go for the overly sympathetic. I don't really like sympathy; I don't like it for myself. Sometimes sympathy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlize-theron/i-don-t-try-to-kind-of-go-for-the-overly-sympathetic-i-don-t-really/) [Charlize Theron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlize-theron/) > [We cannot live for ourselves alone. Our lives are connected by a thousand invisible threads, and along these sympathetic fibers, our actions run as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-cannot-live-for-ourselves-alone-our-lives-are-connected-by-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A sympathetic person is placed in the dilemma of a swimmer among drowning men, who all catch at him, and if he gives so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-sympathetic-person-is-placed-in-the-dilemma-of-a-swimmer-among/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Society expresses its sympathy for the geniuses of the past to distract attention from the fact that it has no intention of being sympathetic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celia-green/society-expresses-its-sympathy-for-the-geniuses-of-the-past-to/) [Celia Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celia-green/) > [Accept these grateful tears...For thee they flow, for thee... That ever felt another's woe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/accept-these-grateful-tears-for-thee-they-flow-for-thee-that-ever/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [Nature always wears the colors of the spirit. To a man laboring under calamity the heat of his own fire hath sadness in it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/nature-always-wears-the-colors-of-the-spirit-to-a-man-laboring-under/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“Before Charlotte could utter a syllable, Tristan picked up her gloved hand and kissed her lightly on the knuckles. “Good day, Charlotte,” he said.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-parker/before-charlotte-could-utter-a-syllable-tristan-picked-up-her-gloved/) [Olivia Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-parker/) > [“You always were selfish. Your one fault. Not willing to share anything, are you?" Suddenly, Damon's lips curved up in a singularly beautiful smile.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-smith/you-always-were-selfish-your-one-fault-not-willing-to-share-anything/) [L.J. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-smith/) > [“Soraya-joon, I have done all that I could. Do not be sorry for us. Your mother and I await you upon your return. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-dubus-iii/soraya-joon-i-have-done-all-that-i-could-do-not-be-sorry-for-us-your/) [Andre Dubus III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-dubus-iii/) ## More by Homer > [He knew the things that were and the things that would be and the things that had been before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/he-knew-the-things-that-were-and-the-things-that-would-be-and-the/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [“Few sons are like their fathers--most are worse, few better.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/few-sons-are-like-their-fathers-most-are-worse-few-better/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, as it pleases him, for he can do all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/the-lord-gives-and-the-lord-takes-away-as-it-pleases-him-for-he-can/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [“Sing in me, Muse, and through me tell the story of that man skilled in all ways of contending, the wanderer, harried for years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/sing-in-me-muse-and-through-me-tell-the-story-of-that-man-skilled-in/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [Hateful to me as are the gates of hell, Is he who, hiding one thing in his heart, Utters another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/hateful-to-me-as-are-the-gates-of-hell-is-he-who-hiding-one-thing-in/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [“And Zeus said: “Hera, you can choose some other time for paying your visit to Oceanus — for the present let us devote ourselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/and-zeus-said-hera-you-can-choose-some-other-time-for-paying-your/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [Ruin, eldest daughter of Zeus, she blinds us all, that fatal madness—she with those delicate feet of hers, never touching the earth, gliding over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/ruin-eldest-daughter-of-zeus-she-blinds-us-all-that-fatal-madness-she/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [“Scepticism is as much the result of knowledge, as knowledge is of scepticism. To be content with what we at present know, is, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/scepticism-is-as-much-the-result-of-knowledge-as-knowledge-is-of/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [Boy, everyone is stupid except me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/boy-everyone-is-stupid-except-me/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [“With that the dream departed, leaving him there, his heart racing with hopes that would not come to pass. He thought he would take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/with-that-the-dream-departed-leaving-him-there-his-heart-racing-with/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [Tell me, O Muse, of that ingenious hero who travelled far and wide after he had sacked the famous town of Troy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/tell-me-o-muse-of-that-ingenious-hero-who-travelled-far-and-wide/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [Ah, beer, my one weakness. My Achille's heel, if you will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/ah-beer-my-one-weakness-my-achille-s-heel-if-you-will/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [My life is more to me than all the wealth of Ilius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/my-life-is-more-to-me-than-all-the-wealth-of-ilius/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [Being popular is the most important thing in the world!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/being-popular-is-the-most-important-thing-in-the-world/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [Urge him with truth to frame his fair replies And sure he will for Wisdom never lies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/urge-him-with-truth-to-frame-his-fair-replies-and-sure-he-will-for/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) [Explore all 639 Homer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) ## More Brother quotes > [I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. As one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-was-3-years-old-to-this-day-it-is-a-vivid-memory-my-family-and-i/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [Whatever meaning 'Annie's Song' had for me on a personal level, there was also a larger context. It could just as easily have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-denver/whatever-meaning-annie-s-song-had-for-me-on-a-personal-level-there/) [John Denver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-denver/) > [Luckily, the bullet that hit my chest never got to me. It was stopped by a silver case I got for my brother's wedding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-doohan/luckily-the-bullet-that-hit-my-chest-never-got-to-me-it-was-stopped/) [James Doohan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-doohan/) > [“Yeah. You treat him like a son or a soldier, instead of like a brother. He wants you to like him and admire him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faith-hunter/yeah-you-treat-him-like-a-son-or-a-soldier-instead-of-like-a-brother/) [Faith Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faith-hunter/) > [“Your relationship with your brother will be, in many ways, the most complex and bewildering of all the interpersonal connections you will form. An…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-currie-jr/your-relationship-with-your-brother-will-be-in-many-ways-the-most/) [Ron Currie Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-currie-jr/) > [If I had my brothers I think with just a little bit of the correct marketing, I'd like to be almost exclusively in small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-bozzio/if-i-had-my-brothers-i-think-with-just-a-little-bit-of-the-correct/) [Terry Bozzio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-bozzio/) > [There's no publicist, no advertisements, and no one's pushing us. If people are buying our records, it's because big brothers and sisters or friends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-moody/there-s-no-publicist-no-advertisements-and-no-one-s-pushing-us-if/) Spencer Moody > [The only way to make sure that the Hand didn't get to you would have been to kill your brother. I could've done it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/the-only-way-to-make-sure-that-the-hand-didn-t-get-to-you-would-have/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [“Your favorite son and brother, Shade. Like”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-aveyard/your-favorite-son-and-brother-shade-like/) [Victoria Aveyard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-aveyard/) > [Sister + brother = a lovely family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sister-brother-a-lovely-family/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There ain't no such thing as black Muslims. That's how they tried to cut off all my brothers in the rest of the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/there-ain-t-no-such-thing-as-black-muslims-that-s-how-they-tried-to/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [Brothers and Sisters, I bid you beware Of giving your heart to a dog to tear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudyard-kipling/brothers-and-sisters-i-bid-you-beware-of-giving-your-heart-to-a-dog/) [Rudyard Kipling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudyard-kipling/) > [Like a child exploring the attic of an old house on a rainy day, discovering a trunk full of treasure and then calling all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/like-a-child-exploring-the-attic-of-an-old-house-on-a-rainy-day/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [Stephanie could see the greed seep into the watery eyes of her father’s other brother, a horrible little man called Fergus, as he nodded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/stephanie-could-see-the-greed-seep-into-the-watery-eyes-of-her-father/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [I worked in a barbershop. I used to make the waves in the brother's hair, you know? Like, Nat King Cole, Sugar Ray Robinson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clinton/i-worked-in-a-barbershop-i-used-to-make-the-waves-in-the-brother-s/) [George Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clinton/) [Browse all 7,453 Brother quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brother/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A sympathetic friend can be quite as dear as a brother.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Homer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/a-sympathetic-friend-can-be-quite-as-dear-as-a-brother/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Brother" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/a-sympathetic-friend-can-be-quite-as-dear-as-a-brother/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ed/homer-357_brother_a-sympathetic-friend-can-be-quite-as-dea_1757651.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ed/homer-357_brother_a-sympathetic-friend-can-be-quite-as-dea_1757651.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ed/homer-357_brother_a-sympathetic-friend-can-be-quite-as-dea_1757651.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A sympathetic friend can be quite as dear as a brother.” — Homer", "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": "Homer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A sympathetic friend can be quite...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/a-sympathetic-friend-can-be-quite-as-dear-as-a-brother/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/a-sympathetic-friend-can-be-quite-as-dear-as-a-brother/#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 } } ] } ```