---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I know a way to stay friends forever…"
description: "\"I know a way to stay friends forever, There's really nothing to it, I tell you what to do, And you do it.\" — Shel Silverstein"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e1/shel-silverstein-1914_forever_i-know-a-way-to-stay-friends-forever-the_234256.jpg"
---

#  I know a way to stay friends forever, There's really…

![“I know a way to stay friends forever, There's really nothing to it, I tell you what to do, And you do it.” quote by Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e1/shel-silverstein-1914_forever_i-know-a-way-to-stay-friends-forever-the_234256.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e1/shel-silverstein-1914_forever_i-know-a-way-to-stay-friends-forever-the_234256.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e1/shel-silverstein-1914_forever_i-know-a-way-to-stay-friends-forever-the_234256.jpg)

> “I know a way to stay friends forever, There's really nothing to it, I tell you what to do, And you do it.”

[Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/)

## About This Quote

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

Maintaining lifelong friendships requires simple, consistent actions and mutual effort.

**In simple terms:** Friendship lasts with simple, mutual actions.

Key Takeaway

Practice consistent, caring habits.

Themes

friendship communication commitment

Mood

warm hopeful

Type

advice inspirational

When to use this quote

- daily check‑ins
- shared experiences
- conflict resolution
- expressing appreciation

Key Concepts

mutual effort consistency

Questions to Reflect On

- What small actions can you start today?
- How do you handle conflicts?

A Different Perspective

Friendships also need boundaries and honesty.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

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

## Related quotes

> [“I've discovered a way to stay friends forever - There's really nothing to it. I simply tell you what to do And you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/i-ve-discovered-a-way-to-stay-friends-forever-there-s-really-nothing/)

[Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/)

> [Friendship I've discovered a way to stay friends forever -- There's really nothing to it. I simply tell you what to do And you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/friendship-i-ve-discovered-a-way-to-stay-friends-forever-there-s/)

[Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/)

> [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/)

> [“Forever is a really long time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nely-cab/forever-is-a-really-long-time/)

[Nely Cab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nely-cab/)

> [Forever is a really long time, you know? What do you do with forever?" "The same thing you do when you don't have forever."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-hocking/forever-is-a-really-long-time-you-know-what-do-you-do-with-forever/)

[Amanda Hocking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-hocking/)

> [I hope we'll be friends forever, together we'll always be. I don't think you understand just how much you mean to me. And one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bridget-davis/i-hope-we-ll-be-friends-forever-together-we-ll-always-be-i-don-t/)

Bridget Davis

> [What If Following Her Heart Means Rose Could Lose Her Best Friend Forever?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/what-if-following-her-heart-means-rose-could-lose-her-best-friend/)

[Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/)

> [There are just some friends that you can go without seeing or hearing from for a long period of time and still pick back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-bognar/there-are-just-some-friends-that-you-can-go-without-seeing-or-hearing/)

[Jenna Bognar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-bognar/)

> [I can see the Beatles sticking together forever, really. We've been together a long time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-harrison/i-can-see-the-beatles-sticking-together-forever-really-we-ve-been/)

[George Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-harrison/)

> [“I love you forever' really means 'Just trust me for now,' which is all it ever means, and we just hope to keep renewing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-gopnik/i-love-you-forever-really-means-just-trust-me-for-now-which-is-all-it/)

[Adam Gopnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-gopnik/)

> [Dealing with death is there forever, really, you know, because we all have to face it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierce-brosnan/dealing-with-death-is-there-forever-really-you-know-because-we-all/)

[Pierce Brosnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierce-brosnan/)

> [After losing Dad, there was the idea that none of us have forever. It really affects you. It makes you want to live each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bindi-irwin/after-losing-dad-there-was-the-idea-that-none-of-us-have-forever-it/)

[Bindi Irwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bindi-irwin/)

> [When you love someone it is forever, or it was never really love at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/when-you-love-someone-it-is-forever-or-it-was-never-really-love-at-all/)

[Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/)

> [“But there was only one truth about forever that really mattered, and that was this: it was happening. Right then, and every moment afterwards.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/but-there-was-only-one-truth-about-forever-that-really-mattered-and/)

[Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/)

> [“forever is really only a short while,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilliana-anderson/forever-is-really-only-a-short-while/)

[Lilliana Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilliana-anderson/)

## More by Shel Silverstein

> [“I cannot go to school today" Said little Peggy Ann McKay. "I have the measles and the mumps, A gash, a rash and purple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/i-cannot-go-to-school-today-said-little-peggy-ann-mckay-i-have-the/)

[Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/)

> [Oh, I'm being eaten By a boa constrictor, A boa constrictor, A boa constrictor, I'm being eaten by a boa constrictor, And I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/oh-i-m-being-eaten-by-a-boa-constrictor-a-boa-constrictor-a-boa/)

[Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/)

> [“Many leaves one tree”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/many-leaves-one-tree/)

[Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/)

> [Magic Sandra’s seen a leprechaun, Eddie touched a troll, Laurie danced with witches once, Charlie found some goblins gold. Donald heard a mermaid sing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/magic-sandra-s-seen-a-leprechaun-eddie-touched-a-troll-laurie-danced/)

[Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/)

> [He has the obligation to society that any human being has. I don't think a satirist has any greater obligation to society than a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/he-has-the-obligation-to-society-that-any-human-being-has-i-don-t/)

[Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/)

> [“Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would not take the garbage out! She'd scour the pots and scrape the pans, Candy the yams and spice the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/sarah-cynthia-sylvia-stout-would-not-take-the-garbage-out-she-d-scour/)

[Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/)

> [To me, freedom entitles you to do something, not to not do something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/to-me-freedom-entitles-you-to-do-something-not-to-not-do-something/)

[Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/)

> [“Ol' man Simon, planted a diamond. Grew hisself a garden the likes of none. Sprouts all growin' comin' up glowin' Fruit of jewels all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/ol-man-simon-planted-a-diamond-grew-hisself-a-garden-the-likes-of/)

[Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/)

> [“Ma and God God gave us fingers--Ma says, "Use your fork." God gave us voices--Ma says, "Don't scream." Ma says eat broccoli, cereal and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/ma-and-god-god-gave-us-fingers-ma-says-use-your-fork-god-gave-us/)

[Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/)

> [Ourchestra: So you haven't got a drum, just beat your belly. So I haven't got a horn-I'll play my nose. So we haven't any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/ourchestra-so-you-haven-t-got-a-drum-just-beat-your-belly-so-i-haven/)

[Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/)

> [“Ickle me, pickle me, tickle me too never returned to the world they knew and nobody knows what happened to dear ickle me, pickle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/ickle-me-pickle-me-tickle-me-too-never-returned-to-the-world-they/)

[Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/)

> [I would hope that people, no matter what age, would find something to identify with in my books, pick one up and experience a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/i-would-hope-that-people-no-matter-what-age-would-find-something-to/)

[Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/)

> [What you've got to say, you say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/what-you-ve-got-to-say-you-say/)

[Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/)

> [G'bye, I'm going out to play!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/g-bye-i-m-going-out-to-play/)

[Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/)

> [A spider lives inside my head Who weaves a strange and wondrous web Of silken threads and silver strings To catch all sorts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/a-spider-lives-inside-my-head-who-weaves-a-strange-and-wondrous-web/)

[Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/)

[Explore all 198 Shel Silverstein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/)

## More Forever quotes

> [Every one knows that the exercise of military power is forever dangerous to civil rights; and we have had recent instances of violences that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/every-one-knows-that-the-exercise-of-military-power-is-forever/)

[Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/)

> [“I believe in forever, and that’s what you and I are. We define eternity. This may sound cheesy, but you make me go there.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-mchugh/i-believe-in-forever-and-that-s-what-you-and-i-are-we-define-eternity/)

[Gail McHugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-mchugh/)

> [Contradictory precepts that have guided me for as long as I can remember: 1: I will live forever. 2: I will die tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-gardner/contradictory-precepts-that-have-guided-me-for-as-long-as-i-can/)

[Howard Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-gardner/)

> [People don't always realize that a record is forever. It'll always be there under your name. You've got to be certain that it's right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-iero/people-don-t-always-realize-that-a-record-is-forever-it-ll-always-be/)

[Frank Iero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-iero/)

> [When you find someone you want to spend forever with you, you don't let them go, whether forever turns out to be a day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-williams/when-you-find-someone-you-want-to-spend-forever-with-you-you-don-t/)

[Nicole Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-williams/)

> [What does forever mean to you? When you couldnt even keep it true You said were youd forever be there But were those just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fad-ibra/what-does-forever-mean-to-you-when-you-couldnt-even-keep-it-true-you/)

[Fad Ibra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fad-ibra/)

> [Forever is a really long time, you know? What do you do with forever?" "The same thing you do when you don't have forever."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-hocking/forever-is-a-really-long-time-you-know-what-do-you-do-with-forever/)

[Amanda Hocking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-hocking/)

> [I think when you’re dying you start looking for important things in the corners. You can’t let anything that seems even semi-important pass, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-crutcher/i-think-when-you-re-dying-you-start-looking-for-important-things-in/)

[Chris Crutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-crutcher/)

> [Whole scenes of your life slip away forever if you don't put them down in ink.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silas-house/whole-scenes-of-your-life-slip-away-forever-if-you-don-t-put-them/)

[Silas House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silas-house/)

> [Tonight I feel like a prisoner on fire, waiting desperately... denied, sentenced forever more. Only your love can set me free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bolton/tonight-i-feel-like-a-prisoner-on-fire-waiting-desperately-denied/)

[Michael Bolton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bolton/)

> [It all depends on you. You can go on sleeping forever, you can wake up right this moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/it-all-depends-on-you-you-can-go-on-sleeping-forever-you-can-wake-up/)

[Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/)

> [I do conscientiously and sincerely believe that the Order of Freemasonry, if not the greatest, is one of the greatest moral and political evils…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/i-do-conscientiously-and-sincerely-believe-that-the-order-of/)

[John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/)

> [There is nothing more I ask of this life than this moment, exactly so. And suddenly forever seems like too short a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-andreas/there-is-nothing-more-i-ask-of-this-life-than-this-moment-exactly-so/)

[Brian Andreas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-andreas/)

> [I want to do - I want to be putting out classic stuff that's gonna stick and last forever, you feel me?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yg/i-want-to-do-i-want-to-be-putting-out-classic-stuff-that-s-gonna/)

YG

> [“I will run every mile, i will save every line, i will say i reached the top and i will fall back down standing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mennah-al-refaey/i-will-run-every-mile-i-will-save-every-line-i-will-say-i-reached-the/)

Mennah al refaey

Browse all 10,689 Forever quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I know a way to stay friends forever, There's really nothing to it, I tell you what to do, And you do it.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Shel Silverstein"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/i-know-a-way-to-stay-friends-forever-there-s-really-nothing-to-it-i/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Forever"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/i-know-a-way-to-stay-friends-forever-there-s-really-nothing-to-it-i/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e1/shel-silverstein-1914_forever_i-know-a-way-to-stay-friends-forever-the_234256.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e1/shel-silverstein-1914_forever_i-know-a-way-to-stay-friends-forever-the_234256.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e1/shel-silverstein-1914_forever_i-know-a-way-to-stay-friends-forever-the_234256.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I know a way to stay friends forever, There's really nothing to it, I tell you what to do, And you do it.” — Shel Silverstein",
                "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": "Shel Silverstein",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I know a way to stay...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/i-know-a-way-to-stay-friends-forever-there-s-really-nothing-to-it-i/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/i-know-a-way-to-stay-friends-forever-there-s-really-nothing-to-it-i/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
