--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We may have many acquaintances, but we…" description: "\"We may have many acquaintances, but we can have but few friends; this made Aristotle say that he that hath many friends hath none.\" — Samuel Johnson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/665/samuel-johnson-50_acquaintance_we-may-have-many-acquaintances-but-we-ca_400293.png" --- # We may have many acquaintances, but we can have but few… ![“We may have many acquaintances, but we can have but few friends; this made Aristotle say that he that hath many friends hath none.” quote by Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/665/samuel-johnson-50_acquaintance_we-may-have-many-acquaintances-but-we-ca_400293.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/665/samuel-johnson-50_acquaintance_we-may-have-many-acquaintances-but-we-ca_400293.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/665/samuel-johnson-50_acquaintance_we-may-have-many-acquaintances-but-we-ca_400293.png) > “We may have many acquaintances, but we can have but few friends; this made Aristotle say that he that hath many friends hath none.” [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Many acquaintances do not equal true friendship; true friends are rare and valuable. **In simple terms:** Acquaintances differ from real friends. Key Takeaway Value deep friendships over many contacts. Themes friendship quality social bonds Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - networking events - career mentorship - personal crises - loneliness Key Concepts Aristotelian ethics trust loyalty Questions to Reflect On - Who are your true friends and how do you nurture them? - Can you trust many acquaintances as you do a few close friends? A Different Perspective Quantity of contacts cannot replace depth of trust. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acquaintance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acquaintance/) [Acquaintances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acquaintances/) [Acquaintances Friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acquaintances-friends-1489172/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aristotle/) [Aristotle Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aristotle-say-897955/) [Few friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/few-friends/) [Friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friend/) [Friends Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friends-aristotle-3591053/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Many friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/many-friends/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) ## Related quotes > [At times I think I actually hate Hollywood. I have many acquaintances there, but few friends...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-kelly/at-times-i-think-i-actually-hate-hollywood-i-have-many-acquaintances/) [Grace Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-kelly/) > [Today, people often make the American mistake of confusing acquaintances with friends. The former are there to share life's pleasures; only the latter should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-fellowes/today-people-often-make-the-american-mistake-of-confusing/) [Julian Fellowes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-fellowes/) > [Everywhere is nowhere. When a person spends all his time in foreign travel, he ends by having many acquaintances, but no friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucius-annaeus-seneca/everywhere-is-nowhere-when-a-person-spends-all-his-time-in-foreign/) [Lucius Annaeus Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucius-annaeus-seneca/) > [Don't mistake acquaintances for friends, acquaintances are the people you know, friends are the people you can depend on to be there for you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-rowe/don-t-mistake-acquaintances-for-friends-acquaintances-are-the-people/) [Rashida Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-rowe/) > [our acquaintances—not our friends—are our greatest source of new ideas and information. the internet lets us exploit the power of these kinds of distant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/our-acquaintances-not-our-friends-are-our-greatest-source-of-new/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [“Sometimes there are people in this world that you meet. Most of these people remain just that, passing acquaintances that further down the line…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-williams/sometimes-there-are-people-in-this-world-that-you-meet-most-of-these/) [Emily Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-williams/) > [There are friends and there are acquaintances. Friends are the people you can depend on, there for you, that you can count on no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-are-friends-and-there-are-acquaintances-friends-are-the-people/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Who is everywhere is nowhere. When a person spends all his time in foreign travel, he ends by having many acquaintances, but no friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/who-is-everywhere-is-nowhere-when-a-person-spends-all-his-time-in/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [People have just assumed that... if we call our Facebook acquaintances our friends, we must be influenced by them, too. But we're not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-a-christakis/people-have-just-assumed-that-if-we-call-our-facebook-acquaintances/) [Nicholas A. Christakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-a-christakis/) > [I don't have friends, I have thousands of acquaintances. No friends. I figured I had a wife and children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bronson/i-don-t-have-friends-i-have-thousands-of-acquaintances-no-friends-i/) [Charles Bronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bronson/) > [There's a difference between business acquaintances and friends. I consider a friend any time we eat together at the same restaurant, or he's eaten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-nelson/there-s-a-difference-between-business-acquaintances-and-friends-i/) [Roy Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-nelson/) > [“When a person spends all his time in foreign travel, he ends by having many acquaintances, but no friends.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucius-annaeus-seneca/when-a-person-spends-all-his-time-in-foreign-travel-he-ends-by-having/) [Lucius Annaeus Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucius-annaeus-seneca/) > [The ideal life is that which has few friends, but many acquaintances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/humphry-davy/the-ideal-life-is-that-which-has-few-friends-but-many-acquaintances/) [Humphry Davy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/humphry-davy/) > [“Everything is true, Aristotle seems to say, so long as it is never taken for anything more than it is.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everything-is-true-aristotle-seems-to-say-so-long-as-it-is-never/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The great philosopher, Aristotle had this to say in regards to criticism. “There is only one way to avoid criticism: do nothing, say nothing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-a-hilden/the-great-philosopher-aristotle-had-this-to-say-in-regards-to/) [L.A. Hilden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-a-hilden/) ## More by Samuel Johnson > [The size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-size-of-a-man-s-understanding-might-always-be-justly-measured-by/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Pound St. Paul's Church into atoms, and consider any single atom; it is to be sure, good for nothing; but put all these atoms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/pound-st-paul-s-church-into-atoms-and-consider-any-single-atom-it-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [You can never be wise unless you love reading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/you-can-never-be-wise-unless-you-love-reading/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [If our aim is to praise, we should forget to criticize; if our aim is to criticize, we should remember to praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/if-our-aim-is-to-praise-we-should-forget-to-criticize-if-our-aim-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [All theory is against free will; all experience is for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/all-theory-is-against-free-will-all-experience-is-for-it/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Had I learned to fiddle, I should have done nothing else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/had-i-learned-to-fiddle-i-should-have-done-nothing-else/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [It is as foolish to make experiments upon the constancy of a friend, as upon the chastity of a wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/it-is-as-foolish-to-make-experiments-upon-the-constancy-of-a-friend/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Resolve not to be poor: whatever you have, spend less. Poverty is a great enemy to human happiness; it certainly destroys liberty, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/resolve-not-to-be-poor-whatever-you-have-spend-less-poverty-is-a/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The basis of all excellence is truth: he that professes love ought to feel its power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-basis-of-all-excellence-is-truth-he-that-professes-love-ought-to/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Words are daughters of earth but ideas are sons of heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/words-are-daughters-of-earth-but-ideas-are-sons-of-heaven/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“The composition of Shakespeare is a forest, in which oaks extend in the air, interspersed sometimes with weeds and brambles, and sometimes giving shelting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-composition-of-shakespeare-is-a-forest-in-which-oaks-extend-in/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“The cherubim were never intended as an object of worship, because they were only the appendices to another thing. But a thing is then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-cherubim-were-never-intended-as-an-object-of-worship-because-they/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Nobody has the right to put another under such a difficulty that he must either hurt the person by telling the truth or hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/nobody-has-the-right-to-put-another-under-such-a-difficulty-that-he/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [That kind of life is most happy which affords us most opportunities of gaining our own self-esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/that-kind-of-life-is-most-happy-which-affords-us-most-opportunities/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The time will come to every human being when it must be known how well he can bear to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-time-will-come-to-every-human-being-when-it-must-be-known-how/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) [Explore all 1,998 Samuel Johnson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## More Acquaintance quotes > [Distrust all those who love you extremely upon a very slight acquaintance and without any visible reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distrust-all-those-who-love-you-extremely-upon-a-very-slight/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Be much alone with God, and take time to get thoroughly acquainted. Converse over everything with Him. Unburden yourself wholly -every thought, feeling, wish,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatius-bonar/be-much-alone-with-god-and-take-time-to-get-thoroughly-acquainted/) [Horatius Bonar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatius-bonar/) > [The study of history and philosophy, accompanied by some acquaintance with art and literature, should be for lawyers and engineers as well as for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-eagleton/the-study-of-history-and-philosophy-accompanied-by-some-acquaintance/) [Terry Eagleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-eagleton/) > [The love of new acquaintance comes not so much from being weary of what we had before, or from any satisfaction there is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-love-of-new-acquaintance-comes-not-so-much-from-being-weary-of/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [One frequently only finds out how really beautiful a women is, until after considerable acquaintance with her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/one-frequently-only-finds-out-how-really-beautiful-a-women-is-until/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“I'd rather be a nodding acquaintance, than a bobble head”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-stern/i-d-rather-be-a-nodding-acquaintance-than-a-bobble-head/) [Josh Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-stern/) > [In addition to my other numerous acquaintances, I have one more intimate confidant… My depression is the most faithful mistress I have known —…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/in-addition-to-my-other-numerous-acquaintances-i-have-one-more/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [God is a spirit. Jesus was led up of the Spirit to be tempted of the Devil; and it is also true that spirits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bradlaugh/god-is-a-spirit-jesus-was-led-up-of-the-spirit-to-be-tempted-of-the/) [Charles Bradlaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bradlaugh/) > [ \[On an anarchist acquaintance:\] Everything in appearance the most alarmist aunt could wish. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/on-an-anarchist-acquaintance-everything-in-appearance-the-most/) [Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) > [There is no such thing as educational value in the abstract. The notion that some subjects and methods and that acquaintance with certain facts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/there-is-no-such-thing-as-educational-value-in-the-abstract-the/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [ \[Books\] will visit you at your convenience, whether you are lonesome or not, on rainy days or fair. They propose themselves as either transient… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifton-fadiman/books-will-visit-you-at-your-convenience-whether-you-are-lonesome-or/) [Clifton Fadiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifton-fadiman/) > [I'm not dating Prateik; he is just a good acquaintance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amyra-dastur/i-m-not-dating-prateik-he-is-just-a-good-acquaintance/) [Amyra Dastur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amyra-dastur/) > [Moderation is the inseparable companion of wisdom, but with it genius has not even a nodding acquaintance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/moderation-is-the-inseparable-companion-of-wisdom-but-with-it-genius/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [The greatest embarrassment of my political career has been that active duties seem to deprive me of time for careful investigation. I seem almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/the-greatest-embarrassment-of-my-political-career-has-been-that/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [A woman who can't forgive should never have more than a nodding acquaintance with a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-woman-who-can-t-forgive-should-never-have-more-than-a-nodding/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 484 Acquaintance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acquaintance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We may have many acquaintances, but we can have but few friends; this made Aristotle say that he that hath many friends hath none.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Samuel Johnson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/we-may-have-many-acquaintances-but-we-can-have-but-few-friends-this/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acquaintance" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/we-may-have-many-acquaintances-but-we-can-have-but-few-friends-this/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/665/samuel-johnson-50_acquaintance_we-may-have-many-acquaintances-but-we-ca_400293.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/665/samuel-johnson-50_acquaintance_we-may-have-many-acquaintances-but-we-ca_400293.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/665/samuel-johnson-50_acquaintance_we-may-have-many-acquaintances-but-we-ca_400293.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We may have many acquaintances, but we can have but few friends; this made Aristotle say that he that hath…” — Samuel Johnson", "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": "Samuel Johnson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We may have many acquaintances, but...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/we-may-have-many-acquaintances-but-we-can-have-but-few-friends-this/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/we-may-have-many-acquaintances-but-we-can-have-but-few-friends-this/#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 } } ] } ```