---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But what are friends? What is a husband…"
description: "\"But what are friends? What is a husband, even, compared with one's Mother? Of her love, one is always so sure! It is the only love that nothing - not e..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bb/jane-welsh-carlyle-13856_always_but-what-are-friends-what-is-a-husband-e_1525944.jpg"
---

#  But what are friends? What is a husband, even, compared…

![“But what are friends? What is a husband, even, compared with one's Mother? Of her love, one is always so sure! It is the only love that nothing - not even misconduct on our part - can take away from us.” quote by Jane Welsh Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bb/jane-welsh-carlyle-13856_always_but-what-are-friends-what-is-a-husband-e_1525944.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bb/jane-welsh-carlyle-13856_always_but-what-are-friends-what-is-a-husband-e_1525944.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bb/jane-welsh-carlyle-13856_always_but-what-are-friends-what-is-a-husband-e_1525944.jpg)

> “But what are friends? What is a husband, even, compared with one's Mother? Of her love, one is always so sure! It is the only love that nothing - not even misconduct on our part - can take away from us.”

[Jane Welsh Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-welsh-carlyle/)

## About This Quote

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

Maternal love is portrayed as the most certain, unconditional bond, surpassing all other relationships in reliability and depth.

**In simple terms:** Mother's love is ultimate.

Key Takeaway

Value and protect maternal bonds.

Themes

family love security trust unconditional

Mood

warm reflective reverent

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- parenting
- family counseling
- grief support

Key Concepts

maternal instinct emotional stability social roles

Questions to Reflect On

- How does maternal love shape identity?
- Can other relationships match its certainty?

A Different Perspective

Maternal love can be idealized beyond reality.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friends/) [Husband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/husband/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Mother love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother-love/) [Nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nothing/)

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