--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No, he told himself honestly. I’ve never…" description: "\"“No, he told himself honestly. I’ve never had real friends before. This is what it feels like. This is why people will sacrifice so many accomplishment..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c09/orson-scott-card-134_friend_no-he-told-himself-honestly-i-ve-never-h_1107945.png" --- # No, he told himself honestly. I’ve never had real friends… ![“No, he told himself honestly. I’ve never had real friends before. This is what it feels like. This is why people will sacrifice so many accomplishments in order to stay with their friends instead of their tasks. But I have these friends because I stayed with my task. So instead of dragging each…” quote by Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c09/orson-scott-card-134_friend_no-he-told-himself-honestly-i-ve-never-h_1107945.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c09/orson-scott-card-134_friend_no-he-told-himself-honestly-i-ve-never-h_1107945.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c09/orson-scott-card-134_friend_no-he-told-himself-honestly-i-ve-never-h_1107945.png) > ““No, he told himself honestly. I’ve never had real friends before. This is what it feels like. This is why people will sacrifice so many accomplishments in order to stay with their friends instead of their tasks. But I have these friends because I stayed with my task. So instead of dragging each other down, we’re building each other up. We’re not just good friends, we’re friends who do each other good.”” [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True friendship thrives when people support each other's growth rather than competing, fostering mutual uplift. **In simple terms:** Friends help each other grow. Key Takeaway Cultivate supportive relationships. Themes friendship growth collaboration loyalty Mood inspirational reflective Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - team projects - study groups - mentor‑mentee relationships - community building Key Concepts psychology social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How do you contribute to your friends’ success? - When have you felt uplifted by a friend? A Different Perspective Not all friendships are self‑less; power dynamics can emerge. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friend/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Good friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-friend/) [Good friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-friends/) [Real friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-friends/) ## Related quotes > [“But I have these friends because I stayed with my task. So instead of dragging each other down, we’re building each other up. We’re…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/but-i-have-these-friends-because-i-stayed-with-my-task-so-instead-of/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [I had my group of friends, and they stayed my group of friends, they were good about that. We all started to succeed at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-black/i-had-my-group-of-friends-and-they-stayed-my-group-of-friends-they/) [Shane Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-black/) > [In private some critics have come up to me afterwards and told me they honestly enjoyed the movie. Then they'd tell me that they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-pantoliano/in-private-some-critics-have-come-up-to-me-afterwards-and-told-me/) [Joe Pantoliano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-pantoliano/) > [“No matter how good things are, there will always be solitary nights you spend in your bedroom or car or in a party full…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-campbell/no-matter-how-good-things-are-there-will-always-be-solitary-nights/) Dan Campbell > [“It’s taboo to admit that you’re lonely. You can make jokes about it, of course. You can tell people that you spend most of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-o-connell/it-s-taboo-to-admit-that-you-re-lonely-you-can-make-jokes-about-it-of/) [Ryan O'Connell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-o-connell/) > [I love coming home, sleeping in my own bed, seeing my own family and friends again. It feels like a big comfort for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amybeth-mcnulty/i-love-coming-home-sleeping-in-my-own-bed-seeing-my-own-family-and/) [Amybeth McNulty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amybeth-mcnulty/) > [True friends are the one who stayed beside you until the end and know when your sad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jp0nt3c177a/true-friends-are-the-one-who-stayed-beside-you-until-the-end-and-know/) Jp0nt3c177a > [Enjoy the friends you have now and stop dwelling on the past , if they were true friends they would have stayed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/enjoy-the-friends-you-have-now-and-stop-dwelling-on-the-past-if-they/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My friends,the memories...the nights that lasted forever and the days that went by slowly. The nights that will replay in our heads all through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-friends-the-memories-the-nights-that-lasted-forever-and-the-days/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I wish Friends stayed Friends,Wearing stupid smiles not deceiving masks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/destinydreams/i-wish-friends-stayed-friends-wearing-stupid-smiles-not-deceiving/) [DestinyDreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/destinydreams/) > [“How does one keep from “growing old inside”? Surely only in community. The only way to make friends with time is to stay friends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mcafee-brown/how-does-one-keep-from-growing-old-inside-surely-only-in-community/) [Robert McAfee Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mcafee-brown/) > [I know a way to stay friends forever, There's really nothing to it, I tell you what to do, And you do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/i-know-a-way-to-stay-friends-forever-there-s-really-nothing-to-it-i/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [Tell me how the f-ck we supposed to stay friends When you got a bunch of feelings that you dont show](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/tell-me-how-the-f-ck-we-supposed-to-stay-friends-when-you-got-a-bunch/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [So yeah bitches,see this girl ? she's MY twinnie, we uhn were born but drifted apart 2 years later and uhm yeah now we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ream-iz-the-peite-legume-of-ze-jazzy/so-yeah-bitches-see-this-girl-she-s-my-twinnie-we-uhn-were-born-but/) Ream Iz The Peite Legume Of Ze Jazzy > [Friends who buy friends starbucks stay friends forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/friends-who-buy-friends-starbucks-stay-friends-forever/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Orson Scott Card > [“You underestimate yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/you-underestimate-yourself/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [We're like the wicked witch. We promise gingerbread, then eat the little brats alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/we-re-like-the-wicked-witch-we-promise-gingerbread-then-eat-the/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [I think that most of us, anyway, read these stories that we know are not "true" because we're hungry for another kind of truth:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/i-think-that-most-of-us-anyway-read-these-stories-that-we-know-are/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [“Why did he hesitate? He finally admitted to himself that he was like an American child who was almost completely certain about Santa Claus,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/why-did-he-hesitate-he-finally-admitted-to-himself-that-he-was-like/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [“I don't know of a soul who doesn't maintain two separate lists of doctrines - the ones they believe they believe; and the ones…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/i-don-t-know-of-a-soul-who-doesn-t-maintain-two-separate-lists-of/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [Good people do not let others suffer needlessly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/good-people-do-not-let-others-suffer-needlessly/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [“The devil?” Jason heaved the tick over his shoulder like a collier with his sack. “Satan. The adversary. The enemy of the plan of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/the-devil-jason-heaved-the-tick-over-his-shoulder-like-a-collier-with/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [“What we've done is make the categories of science fiction and fantasy larger, freer, and more inclusive than any other genre of contemporary literature.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/what-we-ve-done-is-make-the-categories-of-science-fiction-and-fantasy/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [Where ideas are real and reality is shadow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/where-ideas-are-real-and-reality-is-shadow/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [“Ender, for the past few months you have been the battle commander of our fleets. This was the Third Invasion. There were no games,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/ender-for-the-past-few-months-you-have-been-the-battle-commander-of/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [Science fiction is about what could be but isn't; fantasy is about what couldn't be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/science-fiction-is-about-what-could-be-but-isn-t-fantasy-is-about/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [Knowledge is just opinion that you trust enough to act upon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/knowledge-is-just-opinion-that-you-trust-enough-to-act-upon/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [“Of course they accused Marcão of having done it without provocation—that’s the way of torturers of every age, to put the blame on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/of-course-they-accused-marc-o-of-having-done-it-without-provocation/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [“Civilization is only a pretense; in the crisis, we become mere apes again, forgetting the rational biped of our pretensions and becoming instead the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/civilization-is-only-a-pretense-in-the-crisis-we-become-mere-apes/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [“Where did this whole thing begin? If what we think of as reality is just a pattern that somebody brought Outside, and the universe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/where-did-this-whole-thing-begin-if-what-we-think-of-as-reality-is/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) [Explore all 1,158 Orson Scott Card quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) ## 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": "“No, he told himself honestly. 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