--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Friends should be judged by their acts…" description: "\"Friends should be judged by their acts, not their words.\" — Livy" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/291/livy-3007_friend_friends-should-be-judged-by-their-acts-n_1980773.png" --- # Friends should be judged by their acts, not their words. ![“Friends should be judged by their acts, not their words.” quote by Livy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/291/livy-3007_friend_friends-should-be-judged-by-their-acts-n_1980773.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/291/livy-3007_friend_friends-should-be-judged-by-their-acts-n_1980773.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/291/livy-3007_friend_friends-should-be-judged-by-their-acts-n_1980773.png) > “Friends should be judged by their acts, not their words.” [Livy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Judgment should be based on actions rather than promises, emphasizing deeds over rhetoric. **In simple terms:** Judge people by what they do. Key Takeaway Focus on observable behavior. Themes ethics character trust relationships Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - job interviews - friendship circles - leadership assessments - team projects Key Concepts virtue ethics social contract reputation management Questions to Reflect On - What actions reveal true character? - How do words influence perception? A Different Perspective People may act differently when observed, limiting assessment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friend/) [Friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friends/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) ## Related quotes > [You are not responsible for what your friends do, but you will be judged by the company you keep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-a-cole/you-are-not-responsible-for-what-your-friends-do-but-you-will-be/) Leonard A Cole > [His daily prayer, far better understood in acts than in words, was simply doing good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/his-daily-prayer-far-better-understood-in-acts-than-in-words-was/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [A great many of us must move from words to acts - from words of dissent to acts of disobedience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-deming/a-great-many-of-us-must-move-from-words-to-acts-from-words-of-dissent/) [Barbara Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-deming/) > [ “Luke concludes the book of Acts with these words: “He \[Paul\] proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ —with… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-t-olson/luke-concludes-the-book-of-acts-with-these-words-he-paul-proclaimed/) [David T. Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-t-olson/) > [By this act the president alone is empowered to make the law, to fix in his mind what acts, words, what thoughts or looks,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-livingston/by-this-act-the-president-alone-is-empowered-to-make-the-law-to-fix/) Edward Livingston > [There is an old saying which, from its truth, has become proverbial, that friendships should be immortal, enmities mortal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livy/there-is-an-old-saying-which-from-its-truth-has-become-proverbial/) [Livy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livy/) > [Be careful the friends you choose for you will become like them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-clement-stone-2/be-careful-the-friends-you-choose-for-you-will-become-like-them/) W Clement Stone > [You know youve got the greatest friends when the only time they make you cry is when youre laughing too hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orebela-gbenga/you-know-youve-got-the-greatest-friends-when-the-only-time-they-make/) [Orebela Gbenga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orebela-gbenga/) > [Friends are like fiddle strings; they must not be screwed too tight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-george-bohn/friends-are-like-fiddle-strings-they-must-not-be-screwed-too-tight/) [Henry George Bohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-george-bohn/) > [“Enemies Teach. Friends Preach.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tapan-ghosh/enemies-teach-friends-preach/) [Tapan Ghosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tapan-ghosh/) > [Making new friends is tough. You don't really know who to trust when you're away from people that you love a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selena-gomez/making-new-friends-is-tough-you-don-t-really-know-who-to-trust-when/) [Selena Gomez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selena-gomez/) > [It's amazing when strangers become friends but it's so sad, when friends become strangers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-amazing-when-strangers-become-friends-but-it-s-so-sad-when/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Sometimes the right people can make your day. They're called best friends :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/sometimes-the-right-people-can-make-your-day-they-re-called-best/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [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/) > [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 ## More by Livy > [Present sufferings seem far greater to men than those they merely dread.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livy/present-sufferings-seem-far-greater-to-men-than-those-they-merely/) [Livy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livy/) > [The study of History is the best medicine for a sick mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livy/the-study-of-history-is-the-best-medicine-for-a-sick-mind/) [Livy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livy/) > [“Servius Sulpicius and M. Tullius were consuls the next year: nothing worth mentioning happened.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livy/servius-sulpicius-and-m-tullius-were-consuls-the-next-year-nothing/) [Livy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livy/) > [There is an old saying which, from its truth, has become proverbial, that friendships should be immortal, enmities mortal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livy/there-is-an-old-saying-which-from-its-truth-has-become-proverbial/) [Livy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livy/) > [Many things complicated by nature are restored by reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livy/many-things-complicated-by-nature-are-restored-by-reason/) [Livy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livy/) > [Bad beginnings, bad endings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livy/bad-beginnings-bad-endings/) [Livy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livy/) > [“In ancient Greece more than one royal house was guilty of crime which became the stuff of tragedy: now Rome was to follow the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livy/in-ancient-greece-more-than-one-royal-house-was-guilty-of-crime-which/) [Livy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livy/) > [“It is your duty,' he said, 'to recover your country not by gold but by the sword. You will be fighting with all you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livy/it-is-your-duty-he-said-to-recover-your-country-not-by-gold-but-by/) [Livy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livy/) > [In difficult and desperate cases, the boldest counsels are the safest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livy/in-difficult-and-desperate-cases-the-boldest-counsels-are-the-safest/) [Livy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livy/) > [“There is never any lack at Athens of tongues ready and willing to stir up the passions of the common people; this kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livy/there-is-never-any-lack-at-athens-of-tongues-ready-and-willing-to/) [Livy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livy/) > [ “\[Rhodian delegation:\] Every city contains wicked citizens from time to time and an ignorant populace all the time.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livy/rhodian-delegation-every-city-contains-wicked-citizens-from-time-to/) [Livy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livy/) > [Nowhere are our calculations more frequently upset than in war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livy/nowhere-are-our-calculations-more-frequently-upset-than-in-war/) [Livy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livy/) > [Dignity is a matter which concerns only mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livy/dignity-is-a-matter-which-concerns-only-mankind/) [Livy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livy/) > [“The study of history is the best medicine for a sick mind; for in history you have a record of the infinite variety of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livy/the-study-of-history-is-the-best-medicine-for-a-sick-mind-for-in/) [Livy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livy/) > [No man likes to be surpassed by those of this own level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livy/no-man-likes-to-be-surpassed-by-those-of-this-own-level/) [Livy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livy/) [Explore all 142 Livy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livy/) ## 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 > [“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 > [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 > [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": "Friends should be judged by their acts, not their words.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Livy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livy/friends-should-be-judged-by-their-acts-not-their-words/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Friend" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livy/friends-should-be-judged-by-their-acts-not-their-words/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/291/livy-3007_friend_friends-should-be-judged-by-their-acts-n_1980773.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/291/livy-3007_friend_friends-should-be-judged-by-their-acts-n_1980773.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/291/livy-3007_friend_friends-should-be-judged-by-their-acts-n_1980773.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Friends should be judged by their acts, not their words.” — Livy", "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": "Livy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Friends should be judged by their...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livy/friends-should-be-judged-by-their-acts-not-their-words/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livy/friends-should-be-judged-by-their-acts-not-their-words/#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 } } ] } ```