--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The good befriend themselves." description: "\"The good befriend themselves.\" — Sophocles" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/408/sophocles-370_befriend_the-good-befriend-themselves-2151784_2151784.png" --- # The good befriend themselves. ![“The good befriend themselves.” quote by Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/408/sophocles-370_befriend_the-good-befriend-themselves-2151784_2151784.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/408/sophocles-370_befriend_the-good-befriend-themselves-2151784_2151784.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/408/sophocles-370_befriend_the-good-befriend-themselves-2151784_2151784.png) > “The good befriend themselves.” [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often become their own allies, seeking what benefits them. **In simple terms:** We help ourselves. Key Takeaway Recognize self‑interest in decisions. Themes self‑interest friendship ethics Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - business negotiations - personal relationships - political strategy Key Concepts altruism self‑preservation Questions to Reflect On - When do you prioritize self‑interest over others? - How can you balance self‑care with helping others? A Different Perspective Self‑interest may conflict with genuine altruism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Befriend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/befriend/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Good Befriend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-befriend-4527909/) ## Related quotes > [I always befriend shy people. If they're insightful, I have a study buddy. If they're crazy, I'm the only one not getting shot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-always-befriend-shy-people-if-they-re-insightful-i-have-a-study/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you wish to befriend someone, look for a person who loves first God then themselves. If they love God, they will be able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-deunov/if-you-wish-to-befriend-someone-look-for-a-person-who-loves-first-god/) [Peter Deunov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-deunov/) > [I so desperately hate to end these movies that the first thing I do when I'm done is write another one. Then I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hughes/i-so-desperately-hate-to-end-these-movies-that-the-first-thing-i-do/) [John Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hughes/) > [“The vacancy in your heart doesn't connotes that nobody is seeking for the job of servicing your feelings, but because the employee must first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/the-vacancy-in-your-heart-doesn-t-connotes-that-nobody-is-seeking-for/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [Be loyal and trustworthy. Do not befriend anyone who is lower than yourself in this regard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/be-loyal-and-trustworthy-do-not-befriend-anyone-who-is-lower-than/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Dont befriend angry people or associate with hot-tempered people, or you will learn to be like them and endanger your soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dont-befriend-angry-people-or-associate-with-hot-tempered-people-or/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's extraordinary how many people read a book that's new and weird and befriend it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/it-s-extraordinary-how-many-people-read-a-book-that-s-new-and-weird/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [Now you are in the true world, and a great deal more is required of you. Here you must befriend real wolves, and lure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margo-lanagan/now-you-are-in-the-true-world-and-a-great-deal-more-is-required-of/) [Margo Lanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margo-lanagan/) > [“Plantations of good morals are easily captivated, colonized and corrupted by the pests of a bad company. Spray away bad companies and you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/plantations-of-good-morals-are-easily-captivated-colonized-and/) [israelmore ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“Have a religion but don't let religion have you! Befriend God because you wanted to, not because they have said it to you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janina-lea-dela-pe-a/have-a-religion-but-don-t-let-religion-have-you-befriend-god-because/) [Janina Lea Dela Peña](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janina-lea-dela-pe-a/) > [“Befriend. It's a good word. Be-friend." -Bea”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kat-yeh/befriend-it-s-a-good-word-be-friend-bea/) [Kat Yeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kat-yeh/) > [“If you stay passionate and committed, mediocrity will never be eager to befriend you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/if-you-stay-passionate-and-committed-mediocrity-will-never-be-eager/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [No one survives in times of war unless they make war their home. How did I get so old and wise, but for welcoming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/no-one-survives-in-times-of-war-unless-they-make-war-their-home-how/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [You love young ones and babes, I know this. The young will always befriend and admire you...all the young ones of the earth belong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-jacques/you-love-young-ones-and-babes-i-know-this-the-young-will-always/) [Brian Jacques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-jacques/) > [“You can love people, and you can befriend them, but the only person you can ever one hundred percent depend on is yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trisha-leigh/you-can-love-people-and-you-can-befriend-them-but-the-only-person-you/) [Trisha Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trisha-leigh/) ## More by Sophocles > [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [God's dice always have a lucky roll.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/god-s-dice-always-have-a-lucky-roll/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [A fool cannot be an actor, though an actor may act a fool's part.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/a-fool-cannot-be-an-actor-though-an-actor-may-act-a-fool-s-part/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [Go then if you must, but remember, no matter how foolish your deeds, those who love you will love you still.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/go-then-if-you-must-but-remember-no-matter-how-foolish-your-deeds/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [Man's worst ill is stubbornness of heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/man-s-worst-ill-is-stubbornness-of-heart/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [A lie never lives to be old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/a-lie-never-lives-to-be-old/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [How dangerous can false reasoning prove!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/how-dangerous-can-false-reasoning-prove/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [Why should man fear since chance is all in all for him, and he can clearly foreknow nothing? Best to live lightly, as one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/why-should-man-fear-since-chance-is-all-in-all-for-him-and-he-can/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [“But life takes sudden twists.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/but-life-takes-sudden-twists/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [When ice appears out of doors, and boys seize it up while it is solid, at first they experience new pleasures. But in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/when-ice-appears-out-of-doors-and-boys-seize-it-up-while-it-is-solid/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [For God hates utterly the bray of bragging tongues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/for-god-hates-utterly-the-bray-of-bragging-tongues/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [“I have nothing but contempt for the kind of governor who is afraid, for whatever reason, to follow the course that he knows is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/i-have-nothing-but-contempt-for-the-kind-of-governor-who-is-afraid/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [“Not from Hades' black and universal lake can you lift him. Not by groaning, not by prayers. Yet you run yourself out in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/not-from-hades-black-and-universal-lake-can-you-lift-him-not-by/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [A fearful man is always hearing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/a-fearful-man-is-always-hearing-things/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [There is a point at which even justice does injury.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/there-is-a-point-at-which-even-justice-does-injury/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) [Explore all 621 Sophocles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) ## More Befriend quotes > [I always befriend shy people. If they're insightful, I have a study buddy. If they're crazy, I'm the only one not getting shot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-always-befriend-shy-people-if-they-re-insightful-i-have-a-study/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You love young ones and babes, I know this. The young will always befriend and admire you...all the young ones of the earth belong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-jacques/you-love-young-ones-and-babes-i-know-this-the-young-will-always/) [Brian Jacques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-jacques/) > [No one survives in times of war unless they make war their home. How did I get so old and wise, but for welcoming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/no-one-survives-in-times-of-war-unless-they-make-war-their-home-how/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [“If you stay passionate and committed, mediocrity will never be eager to befriend you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/if-you-stay-passionate-and-committed-mediocrity-will-never-be-eager/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“Befriend. It's a good word. Be-friend." -Bea”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kat-yeh/befriend-it-s-a-good-word-be-friend-bea/) [Kat Yeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kat-yeh/) > [“Have a religion but don't let religion have you! Befriend God because you wanted to, not because they have said it to you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janina-lea-dela-pe-a/have-a-religion-but-don-t-let-religion-have-you-befriend-god-because/) [Janina Lea Dela Peña](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janina-lea-dela-pe-a/) > [“Plantations of good morals are easily captivated, colonized and corrupted by the pests of a bad company. Spray away bad companies and you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/plantations-of-good-morals-are-easily-captivated-colonized-and/) [israelmore ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [Now you are in the true world, and a great deal more is required of you. Here you must befriend real wolves, and lure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margo-lanagan/now-you-are-in-the-true-world-and-a-great-deal-more-is-required-of/) [Margo Lanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margo-lanagan/) > [It's extraordinary how many people read a book that's new and weird and befriend it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/it-s-extraordinary-how-many-people-read-a-book-that-s-new-and-weird/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [Dont befriend angry people or associate with hot-tempered people, or you will learn to be like them and endanger your soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dont-befriend-angry-people-or-associate-with-hot-tempered-people-or/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Be loyal and trustworthy. Do not befriend anyone who is lower than yourself in this regard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/be-loyal-and-trustworthy-do-not-befriend-anyone-who-is-lower-than/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [“The vacancy in your heart doesn't connotes that nobody is seeking for the job of servicing your feelings, but because the employee must first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/the-vacancy-in-your-heart-doesn-t-connotes-that-nobody-is-seeking-for/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [I so desperately hate to end these movies that the first thing I do when I'm done is write another one. Then I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hughes/i-so-desperately-hate-to-end-these-movies-that-the-first-thing-i-do/) [John Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hughes/) > [If you wish to befriend someone, look for a person who loves first God then themselves. If they love God, they will be able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-deunov/if-you-wish-to-befriend-someone-look-for-a-person-who-loves-first-god/) [Peter Deunov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-deunov/) > [“You can love people, and you can befriend them, but the only person you can ever one hundred percent depend on is yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trisha-leigh/you-can-love-people-and-you-can-befriend-them-but-the-only-person-you/) [Trisha Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trisha-leigh/) [Browse all 49 Befriend quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/befriend/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The good befriend themselves.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sophocles" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/the-good-befriend-themselves/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Befriend" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/the-good-befriend-themselves/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/408/sophocles-370_befriend_the-good-befriend-themselves-2151784_2151784.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/408/sophocles-370_befriend_the-good-befriend-themselves-2151784_2151784.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/408/sophocles-370_befriend_the-good-befriend-themselves-2151784_2151784.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The good befriend themselves.” — Sophocles", "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": "Sophocles", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The good befriend themselves.", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/the-good-befriend-themselves/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/the-good-befriend-themselves/#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 } } ] } ```