--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had watched them trade best friends…" description: "\"“I had watched them trade best friends, start wars, cry, trade back, make treaties, squeal and grab each other's arms in this fake-excited way, et cete..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b47/rebecca-stead-11010_best-friend_i-had-watched-them-trade-best-friends-st_1619774.png" --- # I had watched them trade best friends, start wars, cry… ![“I had watched them trade best friends, start wars, cry, trade back, make treaties, squeal and grab each other's arms in this fake-excited way, et cetera...” quote by Rebecca Stead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b47/rebecca-stead-11010_best-friend_i-had-watched-them-trade-best-friends-st_1619774.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b47/rebecca-stead-11010_best-friend_i-had-watched-them-trade-best-friends-st_1619774.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b47/rebecca-stead-11010_best-friend_i-had-watched-them-trade-best-friends-st_1619774.png) > ““I had watched them trade best friends, start wars, cry, trade back, make treaties, squeal and grab each other's arms in this fake-excited way, et cetera...”” [Rebecca Stead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-stead/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People constantly shift alliances, forming and breaking friendships, reflecting the fluid nature of human relationships. **In simple terms:** Friendships change and conflict arises. Key Takeaway Accept change and stay adaptable. Themes relationships conflict friendship Mood reflective melancholic Type narrative conversational When to use this quote - school life - political negotiations - online communities - family gatherings Key Concepts social dynamics trust betrayal Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain trust during conflict? - What makes a friendship resilient? A Different Perspective Human bonds can be fragile and easily broken. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Best friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-friend/) [Best friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-friends/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Start wars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/start-wars/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [To someone like me, who has watched trade negotiations closely for more than a quarter-century, it is clear that U.S. trade negotiators got most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/to-someone-like-me-who-has-watched-trade-negotiations-closely-for/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [Almost all wars, perhaps all, are trade wars connected with some material interest. They are always disguised as sacred wars, made in the name…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eduardo-galeano/almost-all-wars-perhaps-all-are-trade-wars-connected-with-some/) [Eduardo Galeano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eduardo-galeano/) > [I'm kind of weird - I don't get excited. Sometimes I fake that I'm excited just to make people happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuel-jal/i-m-kind-of-weird-i-don-t-get-excited-sometimes-i-fake-that-i-m/) [Emmanuel Jal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuel-jal/) > [I'm very bubbly, so when people meet me, they sometimes think I'm fake. I'm excited to meet new people, but I guess I sound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndsy-fonseca/i-m-very-bubbly-so-when-people-meet-me-they-sometimes-think-i-m-fake/) [Lyndsy Fonseca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndsy-fonseca/) > [“How goddamn foolish it is, the war. They's no war in the worth that's worth fightin' for. I don't care where it is. 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The real problem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mamie-thornbrue/religion-is-a-belief-or-a-curriculum-it-can-t-hurt-people-or-start/) Mamie Thornbrue > [“Men still rule this world and as a result the world is broken. Men still hold most positions of power, men control governments, men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-feeney/men-still-rule-this-world-and-as-a-result-the-world-is-broken-men/) [Alice Feeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-feeney/) > [“Kings have the power to stop wars. The power to start wars too.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-a-larson/kings-have-the-power-to-stop-wars-the-power-to-start-wars-too/) M.A. Larson > [“The ladies who came to the palace tended to be less aggressive physically. But their words could probably start wars if said in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiera-cass/the-ladies-who-came-to-the-palace-tended-to-be-less-aggressive/) [Kiera Cass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiera-cass/) > [Dictatorships start wars because they need external enemies to exert internal control over their own people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-perle/dictatorships-start-wars-because-they-need-external-enemies-to-exert/) [Richard Perle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-perle/) > [“the militay dont start wars, politicians start wars”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-westmoreland/the-militay-dont-start-wars-politicians-start-wars/) [William Westmoreland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-westmoreland/) > [“We want different things. Men want to have sex with a woman. Then they want to have sex with another woman. And then another.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-laurie/we-want-different-things-men-want-to-have-sex-with-a-woman-then-they/) [Hugh Laurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-laurie/) ## More by Rebecca Stead > [“We have lunch at ten-forty-five,” Colin said. A stupidly early lunch. At our school, the older you get, the stupider your lunch period.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-stead/we-have-lunch-at-ten-forty-five-colin-said-a-stupidly-early-lunch-at/) [Rebecca Stead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-stead/) > [I feel lucky that I read so many books as a kid because I know that no matter how much I appreciate a book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-stead/i-feel-lucky-that-i-read-so-many-books-as-a-kid-because-i-know-that/) [Rebecca Stead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-stead/) > [For me one of the most important things is not feeling like you have to protect yourself if you're with a real friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-stead/for-me-one-of-the-most-important-things-is-not-feeling-like-you-have/) [Rebecca Stead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-stead/) > [I don't know. I just feel stuck, like I'm afraid to take any steps, in case they're the wrong ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-stead/i-don-t-know-i-just-feel-stuck-like-i-m-afraid-to-take-any-steps-in/) [Rebecca Stead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-stead/) > [She's called the secretary, but as far as I can tell she basically runs the school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-stead/she-s-called-the-secretary-but-as-far-as-i-can-tell-she-basically/) [Rebecca Stead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-stead/) > [“What's the burn scale?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-stead/what-s-the-burn-scale/) [Rebecca Stead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-stead/) > [Pajamas are good for the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-stead/pajamas-are-good-for-the-soul/) [Rebecca Stead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-stead/) > [When you trust your readers, you're hoping they will see what you see. Not every book is for every person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-stead/when-you-trust-your-readers-you-re-hoping-they-will-see-what-you-see/) [Rebecca Stead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-stead/) > [“It was hard to imagine him sneaking around and leaving a rose on anyone's doormat, but I guess boys will surprise you sometimes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-stead/it-was-hard-to-imagine-him-sneaking-around-and-leaving-a-rose-on/) [Rebecca Stead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-stead/) > [Life is really just a bunch of nows, one after the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-stead/life-is-really-just-a-bunch-of-nows-one-after-the-other/) [Rebecca Stead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-stead/) > [Many of the books on my list are, in my opinion, amazing. Some I didn't like. But I give them all five stars, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-stead/many-of-the-books-on-my-list-are-in-my-opinion-amazing-some-i-didn-t/) [Rebecca Stead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-stead/) > [“Dad is looking at the bookshelves, deep in thought, deciding which book should go where. Once, Mom came home from work and discovered that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-stead/dad-is-looking-at-the-bookshelves-deep-in-thought-deciding-which-book/) [Rebecca Stead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-stead/) > [Well, it's simple to love someone," she said. "But it's hard to know when you need to say it out loud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-stead/well-it-s-simple-to-love-someone-she-said-but-it-s-hard-to-know-when/) [Rebecca Stead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-stead/) > [“Trying to forget really doesn't work. In fact, it's pretty much the same as remembering.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-stead/trying-to-forget-really-doesn-t-work-in-fact-it-s-pretty-much-the/) [Rebecca Stead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-stead/) > [If I'm afraid of someone on the street, I'll turn to him (it's always a boy) and say, "Excuse me, do you happen to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-stead/if-i-m-afraid-of-someone-on-the-street-i-ll-turn-to-him-it-s-always-a/) [Rebecca Stead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-stead/) [Explore all 61 Rebecca Stead quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-stead/) ## More Best friend quotes > [“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/) > [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/) > [“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/) > [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/) > [Back home I get to see my old friends!(: But they don't understand the change in me and I can't explain it to them...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade/back-home-i-get-to-see-my-old-friends-but-they-don-t-understand-the/) [Jade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade/) > [This goes out to someone that was Once the most important person in my life I didn't realize it at the time I can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aviation/this-goes-out-to-someone-that-was-once-the-most-important-person-in/) Aviation > [You’re crazy,” said her best friend, Angela, as the bell rang to signal five minutes before the first class on the first day back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/you-re-crazy-said-her-best-friend-angela-as-the-bell-rang-to-signal/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [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/) > [Here is your third gift from Me once again..I had a fourth gift it was about me making a video telling you how much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilbear/here-is-your-third-gift-from-me-once-again-i-had-a-fourth-gift-it-was/) [LilBear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilbear/) > [Our friendship is like a cup of tea¦a special blend of you and me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orebela-gbenga/our-friendship-is-like-a-cup-of-tea-a-special-blend-of-you-and-me/) [Orebela Gbenga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orebela-gbenga/) > [When you have the most beautiful best friend in the world what more could I ask for I love you Tay :) you mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick/when-you-have-the-most-beautiful-best-friend-in-the-world-what-more/) [Nick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick/) > [I believe in God, because he is the only thing that kept me going. He's my best friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-hahn/i-believe-in-god-because-he-is-the-only-thing-that-kept-me-going-he-s/) [Jessica Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-hahn/) > [ONE stone enough to break a glass,,, ONE sentence is enough to break a heart,,, FIRST sight is enough to fall in love,,, ONE…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-stone-enough-to-break-a-glass-one-sentence-is-enough-to-break-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A Real Man will help build his woman's self esteem not break it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-s-voice/a-real-man-will-help-build-his-woman-s-self-esteem-not-break-it/) Lisa's Voice [Browse all 6,524 Best friend quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-friend/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I had watched them trade best friends, start wars, cry, trade back, make treaties, squeal and grab each other's arms in this fake-excited way, et cetera...”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rebecca Stead" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-stead/i-had-watched-them-trade-best-friends-start-wars-cry-trade-back-make/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Best friend" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-stead/i-had-watched-them-trade-best-friends-start-wars-cry-trade-back-make/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b47/rebecca-stead-11010_best-friend_i-had-watched-them-trade-best-friends-st_1619774.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b47/rebecca-stead-11010_best-friend_i-had-watched-them-trade-best-friends-st_1619774.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b47/rebecca-stead-11010_best-friend_i-had-watched-them-trade-best-friends-st_1619774.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I had watched them trade best friends, start wars, cry, trade back, make treaties, squeal and grab each…” — Rebecca Stead", "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": "Rebecca Stead", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-stead/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I had watched them trade best...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-stead/i-had-watched-them-trade-best-friends-start-wars-cry-trade-back-make/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-stead/i-had-watched-them-trade-best-friends-start-wars-cry-trade-back-make/#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 } } ] } ```