--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The capacity for friendship is God's way…" description: "\"The capacity for friendship is God's way of apologizing for our families.\" — Jay McInerney" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/954/jay-mcinerney-7092_apologizing_the-capacity-for-friendship-is-god-s-way_2177961.png" --- # The capacity for friendship is God's way of apologizing… ![“The capacity for friendship is God's way of apologizing for our families.” quote by Jay McInerney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/954/jay-mcinerney-7092_apologizing_the-capacity-for-friendship-is-god-s-way_2177961.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/954/jay-mcinerney-7092_apologizing_the-capacity-for-friendship-is-god-s-way_2177961.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/954/jay-mcinerney-7092_apologizing_the-capacity-for-friendship-is-god-s-way_2177961.png) > “The capacity for friendship is God's way of apologizing for our families.” [Jay McInerney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mcinerney/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Friendship compensates for family shortcomings, acting as a divine apology. **In simple terms:** Friends make up for family flaws. Key Takeaway Cultivate deep friendships. Themes friendship family apology Mood thoughtful melancholic Type reflective philosophical When to use this quote - family counseling - friendship circles - personal growth Key Concepts social support psychological healing Questions to Reflect On - How do friendships heal familial wounds? - Can friendship be a substitute for family? A Different Perspective Friendship cannot replace family entirely. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friends/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Funny friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny-friendship/) [Inspiring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiring/) [Our family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-family/) ## Related quotes > [Friends are God's way of apologizing to us for our families](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/friends-are-god-s-way-of-apologizing-to-us-for-our-families/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [Friends are God's way of apologizing to us for our families. Tennessee Williams quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/friends-are-god-s-way-of-apologizing-to-us-for-our-families-tennessee/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [Friends are God's ways of apologizing for our families.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/friends-are-god-s-ways-of-apologizing-for-our-families/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There are, after all, between seventy-five thousand and a hundred thousand descendants of the Ball-family slaves. If I were to begin apologizing to every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-ball/there-are-after-all-between-seventy-five-thousand-and-a-hundred/) [Edward Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-ball/) > [“Friends are God’s way of apologizing for your relatives.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-shankle/friends-are-god-s-way-of-apologizing-for-your-relatives/) [Melanie Shankle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-shankle/) > [We ought, all of us, to realize each other in this intense, pathetic, and important way. If you say that this is absurd, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/we-ought-all-of-us-to-realize-each-other-in-this-intense-pathetic-and/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [The capacity for friendship usually goes with highly developed civilizations. The ability to cultivate people differs by culture and class; but on the whole,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-capacity-for-friendship-usually-goes-with-highly-developed/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [One's capacity for friendship, which can be developed, is basic to one's capacity for happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/one-s-capacity-for-friendship-which-can-be-developed-is-basic-to-one/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [Friends are God's way of apologizing for your family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/friends-are-god-s-way-of-apologizing-for-your-family/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Lesbians...God's way of apologizing for fat chicks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/lesbians-god-s-way-of-apologizing-for-fat-chicks/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [Your friend is the man who knows you and still likes you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/your-friend-is-the-man-who-knows-you-and-still-likes-you/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [Be civil to all; serviceable to many; familiar with few; friend to one; enemy to none.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/be-civil-to-all-serviceable-to-many-familiar-with-few-friend-to-one/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [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/) > [There are 3 faithful friends, an old wife, an old dog, and ready money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/there-are-3-faithful-friends-an-old-wife-an-old-dog-and-ready-money/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [When you face a crisis, you know who your true friends are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magic-johnson/when-you-face-a-crisis-you-know-who-your-true-friends-are/) [Magic Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magic-johnson/) ## More by Jay McInerney > [“Taste is a matter of taste.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mcinerney/taste-is-a-matter-of-taste/) [Jay McInerney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mcinerney/) > [Most all of the writers I admired when I was in my teens and twenties died young. Fitzgerald lived the longest. He was 44.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mcinerney/most-all-of-the-writers-i-admired-when-i-was-in-my-teens-and-twenties/) [Jay McInerney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mcinerney/) > [I certainly think that the publishing houses have to learn more about this informal network of literary blogging and get over the idea that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mcinerney/i-certainly-think-that-the-publishing-houses-have-to-learn-more-about/) [Jay McInerney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mcinerney/) > [“She said that certain facts are accessible only from one point of view – the point of view of the creature who experiences them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mcinerney/she-said-that-certain-facts-are-accessible-only-from-one-point-of/) [Jay McInerney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mcinerney/) > [Your presence here is is only a matter of conducting an experiment in limits, reminding yourself of what you aren’t.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mcinerney/your-presence-here-is-is-only-a-matter-of-conducting-an-experiment-in/) [Jay McInerney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mcinerney/) > [My former wife is a very eccentric woman, which is why I still love her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mcinerney/my-former-wife-is-a-very-eccentric-woman-which-is-why-i-still-love-her/) [Jay McInerney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mcinerney/) > [“Tears come to your eyes, and you feel such a rush of tenderness and pity that you stop beside a lamppost and hang on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mcinerney/tears-come-to-your-eyes-and-you-feel-such-a-rush-of-tenderness-and/) [Jay McInerney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mcinerney/) > [Sometimes I think everything I touch turns into a Page Six item.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mcinerney/sometimes-i-think-everything-i-touch-turns-into-a-page-six-item/) [Jay McInerney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mcinerney/) > [Sometimes I think the difference between what we want and what we're afraid of is about the width of an eyelash.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mcinerney/sometimes-i-think-the-difference-between-what-we-want-and-what-we-re/) [Jay McInerney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mcinerney/) > [“Suffering is supposed to be the raw stuff of art.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mcinerney/suffering-is-supposed-to-be-the-raw-stuff-of-art/) [Jay McInerney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mcinerney/) > [I think it's dangerous to think you know what you're writing. 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I like pretending to be God and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mcinerney/i-think-when-i-m-writing-i-have-a-more-clinical-view-than-i-do-when-i/) [Jay McInerney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mcinerney/) > [Add anchovies to almost anything, in moderation, and it will taste better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mcinerney/add-anchovies-to-almost-anything-in-moderation-and-it-will-taste/) [Jay McInerney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mcinerney/) > [A creative writing program is only as good as its teachers, and I was fortunate in having two great writers as mentors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mcinerney/a-creative-writing-program-is-only-as-good-as-its-teachers-and-i-was/) [Jay McInerney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mcinerney/) > [I feel that there's a lot of would-be guardians of the culture who think that high-minded literary purpose and the life that gets chronicled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mcinerney/i-feel-that-there-s-a-lot-of-would-be-guardians-of-the-culture-who/) [Jay McInerney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mcinerney/) [Explore all 92 Jay McInerney quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mcinerney/) ## More Apologizing quotes > [“There were probably many factors that kept the relationship going and kept your love alive. There were all his promises. "I promise this will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-kennedy-dugan/there-were-probably-many-factors-that-kept-the-relationship-going-and/) Meg Kennedy Dugan > [“A lady need never apologize. ~ Joseph de Bonaparte (Brother of Napoleon)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-pataki/a-lady-need-never-apologize-joseph-de-bonaparte-brother-of-napoleon/) Allison Pataki > [A jerk will keep hurting you then apologize to keep you from leaving them, and then do it all over again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/a-jerk-will-keep-hurting-you-then-apologize-to-keep-you-from-leaving/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [To apologize for what you most wanted to do, to concede that it was obnoxious, boring, 'vulgar and unsafe' --- that was the worst…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-hollinghurst/to-apologize-for-what-you-most-wanted-to-do-to-concede-that-it-was/) [Alan Hollinghurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-hollinghurst/) > [I have some friends who are actors. I've watched them work. And I would say that of all the arts, acting is the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-stewart/i-have-some-friends-who-are-actors-i-ve-watched-them-work-and-i-would/) [Kristen Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-stewart/) > [President Bush deliberately did not apologize for things and that’s because advisers around him, including those there, felt that the press corps would jump…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gregory/president-bush-deliberately-did-not-apologize-for-things-and-that-s/) [David Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gregory/) > [Apologizing does not always mean you are wrong, it just means that value your relationships more than your ego.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinier-bennett/apologizing-does-not-always-mean-you-are-wrong-it-just-means-that/) [Chinier Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinier-bennett/) > [I would like to publicly apologize to anyone I have NOT offended¦I will get to you shortly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-would-like-to-publicly-apologize-to-anyone-i-have-not-offended-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I have a responsibility, and it's something that I did wrong, and if I could personally apologize to every single person that has lost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-richie/i-have-a-responsibility-and-it-s-something-that-i-did-wrong-and-if-i/) [Nicole Richie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-richie/) > [To the millions of Americans whove attempted to use HealthCare.gov to shop and enroll in health-care coverage, I want to apologize to you that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-tavenner/to-the-millions-of-americans-whove-attempted-to-use-healthcare-gov-to/) Marilyn Tavenner > [My overall point is that 'one and dones' are not healthy for college basketball. I should not have made it personal to Kentucky and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-knight/my-overall-point-is-that-one-and-dones-are-not-healthy-for-college/) [Bobby Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-knight/) > [Don't apologize for being patriotic. Support the troops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toby-keith/don-t-apologize-for-being-patriotic-support-the-troops/) [Toby Keith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toby-keith/) > [How many chefs when I was a young boy shouted at me during service? All I ever said was "Yes, chef." The customer is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/how-many-chefs-when-i-was-a-young-boy-shouted-at-me-during-service/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [I want to use my connections with coaches, players, celebrities, whomever, and if I can take that friendship and use it to help someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-tebow/i-want-to-use-my-connections-with-coaches-players-celebrities/) [Tim Tebow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-tebow/) > [I apologize for the cruel things that I did but I don't regret one single word I said.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/five-finger-death-punch/i-apologize-for-the-cruel-things-that-i-did-but-i-don-t-regret-one/) [Five Finger Death Punch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/five-finger-death-punch/) Browse all 854 Apologizing quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The capacity for friendship is God's way of apologizing for our families.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jay McInerney" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mcinerney/the-capacity-for-friendship-is-god-s-way-of-apologizing-for-our/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Apologizing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mcinerney/the-capacity-for-friendship-is-god-s-way-of-apologizing-for-our/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/954/jay-mcinerney-7092_apologizing_the-capacity-for-friendship-is-god-s-way_2177961.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/954/jay-mcinerney-7092_apologizing_the-capacity-for-friendship-is-god-s-way_2177961.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/954/jay-mcinerney-7092_apologizing_the-capacity-for-friendship-is-god-s-way_2177961.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The capacity for friendship is God's way of apologizing for our families.” — Jay McInerney", "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": "Jay McInerney", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mcinerney/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The capacity for friendship is God's...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mcinerney/the-capacity-for-friendship-is-god-s-way-of-apologizing-for-our/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mcinerney/the-capacity-for-friendship-is-god-s-way-of-apologizing-for-our/#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 } } ] } ```