--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Contrary to general belief, I do not…" description: "\"Contrary to general belief, I do not believe that friends are necessarily the people you like best, they are merely the people who got there first.\" — ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbc/peter-ustinov-4612_belief_contrary-to-general-belief-i-do-not-beli_729261.jpg" --- # Contrary to general belief, I do not believe that friends… ![“Contrary to general belief, I do not believe that friends are necessarily the people you like best, they are merely the people who got there first.” quote by Peter Ustinov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbc/peter-ustinov-4612_belief_contrary-to-general-belief-i-do-not-beli_729261.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbc/peter-ustinov-4612_belief_contrary-to-general-belief-i-do-not-beli_729261.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbc/peter-ustinov-4612_belief_contrary-to-general-belief-i-do-not-beli_729261.jpg) > “Contrary to general belief, I do not believe that friends are necessarily the people you like best, they are merely the people who got there first.” [Peter Ustinov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ustinov/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Friendship is defined by timing and circumstance rather than preference. **In simple terms:** Friends are those who arrive first, not necessarily favorites. Key Takeaway Value early connections, but assess deeper bonds. Themes friendship timing relationships Mood reflective thoughtful Type observational philosophical When to use this quote - starting a new job - moving to a new city - joining a team - reconnecting with old classmates Key Concepts social dynamics attachment theory Questions to Reflect On - Do you prioritize longevity over compatibility? - How do you nurture early friendships into lasting ones? A Different Perspective Early friendships may lack depth and can fade over time. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friend/) [Friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friends/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [I do not believe that friends are necessarily the people you like best, they are merely the people who got there first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ustinov/i-do-not-believe-that-friends-are-necessarily-the-people-you-like/) [Peter Ustinov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ustinov/) > [Contrary to general belief, an artist is never ahead of his time but most people are far behind theirs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/contrary-to-general-belief-an-artist-is-never-ahead-of-his-time-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't like it necessarily when other people speak for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-baker/i-don-t-like-it-necessarily-when-other-people-speak-for-me/) [Charlie Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-baker/) > [I certainly should have,' he agrees, smiling and thinking what an absurd and universally-accepted bit of nonsense it is, that your best friends must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-isherwood/i-certainly-should-have-he-agrees-smiling-and-thinking-what-an-absurd/) [Christopher Isherwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-isherwood/) > [There's always some place to go. You don't need workshops, you don't need friends necessarily, you can be befriended by literature itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hirsch/there-s-always-some-place-to-go-you-don-t-need-workshops-you-don-t/) [Edward Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hirsch/) > [“Incredible that the best route to winning friends is not necessarily kindness or flattery, but letting them know you won't tolerate their bullshit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-miller/incredible-that-the-best-route-to-winning-friends-is-not-necessarily/) [Sarah Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-miller/) > [Dont believe your friends when they ask you to be honest with them. All they really want is to be maintained in the good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/dont-believe-your-friends-when-they-ask-you-to-be-honest-with-them/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [Take it as a token. Because tomorrow when I go, I want you to believe friends are possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-anne-peters/take-it-as-a-token-because-tomorrow-when-i-go-i-want-you-to-believe/) [Julie Anne Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-anne-peters/) > [I believe friends enclose us, like a pair of parentheses. Each one knows us differently, each sustains us in a different way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-kephart/i-believe-friends-enclose-us-like-a-pair-of-parentheses-each-one/) [Beth Kephart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-kephart/) > [Believe not only in yourself, but believe in your friends as well for it is in the eyes of your friends that you discover…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/believe-not-only-in-yourself-but-believe-in-your-friends-as-well-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When I first met Kate I knew there was something very special about her. I knew there was possibly something that I wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prince-william/when-i-first-met-kate-i-knew-there-was-something-very-special-about/) [Prince William](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prince-william/) > [“I truly believe that if you have more friends than books, you have too many friends. Or not enough books. Probably both.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zo-marriott/i-truly-believe-that-if-you-have-more-friends-than-books-you-have-too/) [Zoë Marriott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zo-marriott/) > [People don't believe what you tell them. They rarely believe what you show them. They often believe what their friends tell them. They always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/people-don-t-believe-what-you-tell-them-they-rarely-believe-what-you/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [I don't believe in 'best friends, good friends.' I also don't believe in being friends forever. Because people always leave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-believe-in-best-friends-good-friends-i-also-don-t-believe-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Some believe in love and some believe in friends but Niggas like me believe in making ends 'Cause even when your bitch wants to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dj-quik/some-believe-in-love-and-some-believe-in-friends-but-niggas-like-me/) [Dj Quik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dj-quik/) ## More by Peter Ustinov > [Acting on television is like being asked by the captain to entertain the passengers while the ship goes down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ustinov/acting-on-television-is-like-being-asked-by-the-captain-to-entertain/) [Peter Ustinov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ustinov/) > [There are experts in little things but there are no experts in big things. There are experts in this fact and that fact but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ustinov/there-are-experts-in-little-things-but-there-are-no-experts-in-big/) [Peter Ustinov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ustinov/) > [Marriage is like a three-speed gearbox - affection, friendship, love. It is not advisable to crash your gears and go right through to love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ustinov/marriage-is-like-a-three-speed-gearbox-affection-friendship-love-it/) [Peter Ustinov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ustinov/) > [I was irrevocably betrothed to laughter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ustinov/i-was-irrevocably-betrothed-to-laughter/) [Peter Ustinov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ustinov/) > [I don't know why I have these dreams. I've never wanted to be Pope. In fact, I have a greater affinity to Martin Luther.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ustinov/i-don-t-know-why-i-have-these-dreams-i-ve-never-wanted-to-be-pope-in/) [Peter Ustinov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ustinov/) > [I have three daughters and I find as a result I played King Lear almost without rehearsal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ustinov/i-have-three-daughters-and-i-find-as-a-result-i-played-king-lear/) [Peter Ustinov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ustinov/) > [That weakness in human nature which goes by the name of strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ustinov/that-weakness-in-human-nature-which-goes-by-the-name-of-strength/) [Peter Ustinov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ustinov/) > [I was irrevocably betrothed to laughter, the sound of which has always seemed to me the most civilised music in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ustinov/i-was-irrevocably-betrothed-to-laughter-the-sound-of-which-has-always/) [Peter Ustinov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ustinov/) > [A diplomat these days is nothing but a head waiter who's allowed to sit down occasionally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ustinov/a-diplomat-these-days-is-nothing-but-a-head-waiter-who-s-allowed-to/) [Peter Ustinov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ustinov/) > [Two members of my profession who are not urgently needed by my profession, Mr. Ronald Reagan and Mr. George Murphy, entered politics, and they've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ustinov/two-members-of-my-profession-who-are-not-urgently-needed-by-my/) [Peter Ustinov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ustinov/) > [Her virtue was that she said what she thought, her vice that what she thought didn't amount to much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ustinov/her-virtue-was-that-she-said-what-she-thought-her-vice-that-what-she/) [Peter Ustinov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ustinov/) > [Children are the only form of immortality that we can be sure of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ustinov/children-are-the-only-form-of-immortality-that-we-can-be-sure-of/) [Peter Ustinov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ustinov/) > [I have Russian, German, Spanish, Italian, French and Ethiopian blood in my veins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ustinov/i-have-russian-german-spanish-italian-french-and-ethiopian-blood-in/) [Peter Ustinov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ustinov/) > [Laughter... the most civilized music in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ustinov/laughter-the-most-civilized-music-in-the-world/) [Peter Ustinov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ustinov/) > [Did you know that every two hours the nations of this world spend as much on armaments as they spend on the children of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ustinov/did-you-know-that-every-two-hours-the-nations-of-this-world-spend-as/) [Peter Ustinov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ustinov/) [Explore all 106 Peter Ustinov quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ustinov/) ## More Belief quotes > [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/) [Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/) > [“MIND & GRIND Self-belief and hard work can propel you past more talented peers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/mind-grind-self-belief-and-hard-work-can-propel-you-past-more/) [Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [It took me 20 years of hard training to get the physique I have today. what you need is what i had - BELIEF…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branch-warren/it-took-me-20-years-of-hard-training-to-get-the-physique-i-have-today/) [Branch Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branch-warren/) > [“Here is a fundamental difference between the man of faith and the man of unbelief. The unbeliever is 'of the world', judges everything by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/here-is-a-fundamental-difference-between-the-man-of-faith-and-the-man/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [“She herself vacillated when it came to belief. She did not particularly believe in God. Or, rather, she didn't believe in a particular God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/she-herself-vacillated-when-it-came-to-belief-she-did-not/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [“Rigid traditions capture souls prisons of spiritual thought man’s religion has captured a god grown too small and very weak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-w-earle/rigid-traditions-capture-souls-prisons-of-spiritual-thought-man-s/) [David W Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-w-earle/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [In business, as in politics, it is never easy to go against the beliefs and attitudes held by the majority. The businessman who moves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-paul-getty/in-business-as-in-politics-it-is-never-easy-to-go-against-the-beliefs/) [J. Paul Getty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-paul-getty/) > [There's no greatest moment in the arts. It's a life; it's a continuity thing. You can't have a great moment because it's spiritual. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/there-s-no-greatest-moment-in-the-arts-it-s-a-life-it-s-a-continuity/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) [Browse all 10,268 Belief quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Contrary to general belief, I do not believe that friends are necessarily the people you like best, they are merely the people who got there first.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Peter Ustinov" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ustinov/contrary-to-general-belief-i-do-not-believe-that-friends-are/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Belief" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ustinov/contrary-to-general-belief-i-do-not-believe-that-friends-are/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbc/peter-ustinov-4612_belief_contrary-to-general-belief-i-do-not-beli_729261.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbc/peter-ustinov-4612_belief_contrary-to-general-belief-i-do-not-beli_729261.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbc/peter-ustinov-4612_belief_contrary-to-general-belief-i-do-not-beli_729261.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Contrary to general belief, I do not believe that friends are necessarily the people you like best, they are…” — Peter Ustinov", "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": "Peter Ustinov", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ustinov/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Contrary to general belief, I do...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ustinov/contrary-to-general-belief-i-do-not-believe-that-friends-are/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ustinov/contrary-to-general-belief-i-do-not-believe-that-friends-are/#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 } } ] } ```