---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Besides, if Hans came here, he might ask…"
description: "\"“Besides, if Hans came here, he might ask me to let him have some flour on credit, and that I could not do. Flour is one thing, and friendship is anoth..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/276/oscar-wilde-16_friendship_besides-if-hans-came-here-he-might-ask-m_1109842.jpg"
---

#  Besides, if Hans came here, he might ask me to let him…

![“Besides, if Hans came here, he might ask me to let him have some flour on credit, and that I could not do. Flour is one thing, and friendship is another, and they should not be confused. Why, the words are spelled differently, and mean quite different things. Everyone can see that.” quote by Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/276/oscar-wilde-16_friendship_besides-if-hans-came-here-he-might-ask-m_1109842.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/276/oscar-wilde-16_friendship_besides-if-hans-came-here-he-might-ask-m_1109842.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/276/oscar-wilde-16_friendship_besides-if-hans-came-here-he-might-ask-m_1109842.jpg)

> ““Besides, if Hans came here, he might ask me to let him have some flour on credit, and that I could not do. Flour is one thing, and friendship is another, and they should not be confused. Why, the words are spelled differently, and mean quite different things. Everyone can see that.””

[Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/)

## About This Quote

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

Friendship and commerce are distinct; conflating them leads to ethical confusion.

**In simple terms:** Friendship ≠ business.

Key Takeaway

Separate personal ties from financial deals.

Themes

ethics friendship economics

Mood

critical analytical

Type

dramatic philosophical

When to use this quote

- business partnerships
- loan agreements
- personal relationships
- charitable giving

Key Concepts

moral philosophy social contracts

Questions to Reflect On

- When is it appropriate to mix friendship with finance?
- How do you maintain integrity in mixed relationships?

A Different Perspective

Economic pressures can blur lines, making separation difficult.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friend/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/)

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## More by Oscar Wilde

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