--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I only asked my friends to be friendly…" description: "\"I only asked my friends to be friendly and polite, I found them indifferent and censorious; The one I left to silence, the other to reproach: God send ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/898/stevie-smith-8661_found_i-only-asked-my-friends-to-be-friendly-a_36802.png" --- # I only asked my friends to be friendly and polite, I found… ![“I only asked my friends to be friendly and polite, I found them indifferent and censorious; The one I left to silence, the other to reproach: God send me over all such friends victorious.” quote by Stevie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/898/stevie-smith-8661_found_i-only-asked-my-friends-to-be-friendly-a_36802.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/898/stevie-smith-8661_found_i-only-asked-my-friends-to-be-friendly-a_36802.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/898/stevie-smith-8661_found_i-only-asked-my-friends-to-be-friendly-a_36802.png) > “I only asked my friends to be friendly and polite, I found them indifferent and censorious; The one I left to silence, the other to reproach: God send me over all such friends victorious.” [Stevie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker laments that their request for courteous companionship was met with indifference and harsh judgment, and they wish for divine intervention to overcome such toxic relationships. **In simple terms:** Friendship turned hostile, seeking divine relief. Key Takeaway Beware of superficial friendships. Themes trust humility spirituality social dynamics resentment Mood melancholic reflective hopeful Type aphorism prayer lament When to use this quote - confiding in acquaintances - navigating social circles - dealing with criticism - feeling isolated - seeking support Key Concepts interpersonal conflict moral expectation faith Practical Applications - personal growth through selective relationships - using faith as coping mechanism Questions to Reflect On - What qualities define a true friend? - How does one balance expectations with reality? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Asked Friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asked-friends-443702/) [Found](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/found/) [Friendly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendly/) [Friends Victorious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friends-victorious-443700/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Indifferent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indifferent/) [Indifferent Censorious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indifferent-censorious-443701/) [Left](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/left/) [My friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-friends/) [Polite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/polite/) [Polite Indifferent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/polite-indifferent-443699/) [Reproach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reproach/) [Silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silence/) ## Related quotes > [“If you’re the person who is being asked to be friends, say no. 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What reproach in the contrary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/what-praise-is-implied-in-the-simple-epithet-useful-what-reproach-in/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [(Politeness is) a tacit agreement that people's miserable defects, whether moral or intellectual, shall on either side be ignored and not be made the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/politeness-is-a-tacit-agreement-that-people-s-miserable-defects/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [Neither reproaches nor encouragements are able to revive a faith that is waning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathalie-sarraute/neither-reproaches-nor-encouragements-are-able-to-revive-a-faith-that/) [Nathalie Sarraute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathalie-sarraute/) > [A calm despair, without angry convulsions or reproaches directed at heaven, is the essence of wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-de-vigny/a-calm-despair-without-angry-convulsions-or-reproaches-directed-at/) [Alfred de Vigny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-de-vigny/) > [In Minnesota, we hold our leaders to a higher standard. 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