--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Here's one thing I can't understand…" description: "\"Here's one thing I can't understand: people who are friends with their exes.\" — Timothy Hutton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6b/timothy-hutton-25965_exes_here-s-one-thing-i-can-t-understand-peop_1755804.jpg" --- # Here's one thing I can't understand: people who are… ![“Here's one thing I can't understand: people who are friends with their exes.” quote by Timothy Hutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6b/timothy-hutton-25965_exes_here-s-one-thing-i-can-t-understand-peop_1755804.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6b/timothy-hutton-25965_exes_here-s-one-thing-i-can-t-understand-peop_1755804.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6b/timothy-hutton-25965_exes_here-s-one-thing-i-can-t-understand-peop_1755804.jpg) > “Here's one thing I can't understand: people who are friends with their exes.” [Timothy Hutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-hutton/) ## 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 finds it puzzling that people maintain friendships with former romantic partners. **In simple terms:** Friends with exes seem confusing. Key Takeaway Consider boundaries in post‑relationship friendships. Themes friendship ex‑relationships boundaries Mood conflicted thoughtful Type personal relational When to use this quote - post‑breakup - shared social circles - co‑parenting - workplace Key Concepts trust emotional complexity social norms Questions to Reflect On - Is it healthy to stay friends with an ex? - How do you set limits? A Different Perspective Friendships may blur emotional lines. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dating/) [Exes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exes/) [Friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friends/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [I'm still friends with most of my exes. There are only one or two people that I'll never talk to again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-van-etten/i-m-still-friends-with-most-of-my-exes-there-are-only-one-or-two/) [Sharon Van Etten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-van-etten/) > [I'm friends with all my exes! I love them so much!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-tyler/i-m-friends-with-all-my-exes-i-love-them-so-much/) [Liv Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-tyler/) > [Never be friends with your exes if you weren't friends with them before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-sheeran/never-be-friends-with-your-exes-if-you-weren-t-friends-with-them/) [Ed Sheeran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-sheeran/) > [When you're surrounded by friends and exes, there's a whole lot of stuff that starts crawling out. But however serious and traumatic those experiences…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/when-you-re-surrounded-by-friends-and-exes-there-s-a-whole-lot-of/) [Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/) > [I have been in relationships where a man has disrespected me, and I don't need to be friends with that man anymore. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-saldana/i-have-been-in-relationships-where-a-man-has-disrespected-me-and-i/) [Zoe Saldana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-saldana/) > [I'm friends with all my exes, as they were all friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhumi-pednekar/i-m-friends-with-all-my-exes-as-they-were-all-friends/) [Bhumi Pednekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhumi-pednekar/) > [I'm still friends with all my exes, apart from my husbands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cher/i-m-still-friends-with-all-my-exes-apart-from-my-husbands/) [Cher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cher/) > [ I'm friends with \[exes\] and they hear the songs. I can honestly say I don't have any exes I hate. They're artists in some… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jhene-aiko/i-m-friends-with-exes-and-they-hear-the-songs-i-can-honestly-say-i/) [Jhene Aiko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jhene-aiko/) > [“I don't know why people try to be friends with their exes. I mean, we were never friends, so why try after having decided…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-ryan/i-don-t-know-why-people-try-to-be-friends-with-their-exes-i-mean-we/) Madeleine Ryan > [I have exes Im friends with and exes Im not friends with. It depends on what you decide together. I do think that sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-blackburn/i-have-exes-im-friends-with-and-exes-im-not-friends-with-it-depends/) [Tyler Blackburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-blackburn/) > [“There are exes with whom it is too dangerous to allow even a moment’s eye contact. These are not exes at all, and never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-wagner/there-are-exes-with-whom-it-is-too-dangerous-to-allow-even-a-moment-s/) Josh Wagner > [An ex-girlfriend once got upset when I told her that music is the most important thing in my life. It's more important than anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-gibbard/an-ex-girlfriend-once-got-upset-when-i-told-her-that-music-is-the/) [Ben Gibbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-gibbard/) > [Maybe that's why people have friends at all. Not because they like them so much but because they don't make them feel so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-meno/maybe-that-s-why-people-have-friends-at-all-not-because-they-like/) [Joe Meno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-meno/) > [Life is funny, and a lot of times, the people that I've met have really gone past anything that I've ever dreamed of, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bebe-winans/life-is-funny-and-a-lot-of-times-the-people-that-i-ve-met-have-really/) [BeBe Winans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bebe-winans/) > [When people are friends, they have no need of justice, but when they are just, they need friendship in addition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/when-people-are-friends-they-have-no-need-of-justice-but-when-they/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) ## More by Timothy Hutton > [In acting, you are fulfilled if you give justice to your role... if you are able to do a credible performance and touch the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-hutton/in-acting-you-are-fulfilled-if-you-give-justice-to-your-role-if-you/) [Timothy Hutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-hutton/) > [Treat Williams and I have been friends for years. To finally get to work together was great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-hutton/treat-williams-and-i-have-been-friends-for-years-to-finally-get-to/) [Timothy Hutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-hutton/) > [I was 19 when I got my first passport as an adult. I had moved from California to New York City and was living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-hutton/i-was-19-when-i-got-my-first-passport-as-an-adult-i-had-moved-from/) [Timothy Hutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-hutton/) > [I saw a guy being really abusive to his girlfriend. She was asking people to help, but no one would. When he grabbed her,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-hutton/i-saw-a-guy-being-really-abusive-to-his-girlfriend-she-was-asking/) [Timothy Hutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-hutton/) > [A film has a sort of life over time, whereas a TV show comes up in your living room, and it's immediate, and people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-hutton/a-film-has-a-sort-of-life-over-time-whereas-a-tv-show-comes-up-in/) [Timothy Hutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-hutton/) > [I grew up as normally as any other kid. Between that small TV part I did at five and when I turned professional actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-hutton/i-grew-up-as-normally-as-any-other-kid-between-that-small-tv-part-i/) [Timothy Hutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-hutton/) > [There are plenty of examples of really well-executed shows you could look at and say, 'Well, clearly this show will have an audience; why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-hutton/there-are-plenty-of-examples-of-really-well-executed-shows-you-could/) [Timothy Hutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-hutton/) > [There's probably a little more creative freedom in cable versus network, a little less of a committee looking over everyone's shoulder, but it depends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-hutton/there-s-probably-a-little-more-creative-freedom-in-cable-versus/) [Timothy Hutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-hutton/) > [Even in the off season, people are streaming the show or buying the DVD sets, and new audience comes to Leverage every year weve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-hutton/even-in-the-off-season-people-are-streaming-the-show-or-buying-the/) [Timothy Hutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-hutton/) > [I've worked with Filipino technicians, and they are, I think, among the best. I'm looking forward to visiting the Philippines, maybe for a vacation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-hutton/i-ve-worked-with-filipino-technicians-and-they-are-i-think-among-the/) [Timothy Hutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-hutton/) > [I've enjoyed watching 'Lost.' I'm a big fan of 'Mad Men.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-hutton/i-ve-enjoyed-watching-lost-i-m-a-big-fan-of-mad-men/) [Timothy Hutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-hutton/) > [When I was doing 'Ordinary People' and 'Taps,' I never wondered if it would have a lasting impression. I was just wanting to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-hutton/when-i-was-doing-ordinary-people-and-taps-i-never-wondered-if-it/) [Timothy Hutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-hutton/) > [Even in the off season, people are streaming the show or buying the DVD sets, and new audience comes to 'Leverage' every year we've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-hutton/even-in-the-off-season-people-are-streaming-the-show-or-buying-the-2/) [Timothy Hutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-hutton/) > [TNT is a really great company to do a show for. They really believe in their shows and give shows a lot of support.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-hutton/tnt-is-a-really-great-company-to-do-a-show-for-they-really-believe-in/) [Timothy Hutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-hutton/) > [Any time that we read a script and the 'Leverage' team has to infiltrate a place, assume identities, or become con artists ourselves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-hutton/any-time-that-we-read-a-script-and-the-leverage-team-has-to/) [Timothy Hutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-hutton/) [Explore all 22 Timothy Hutton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-hutton/) ## More Dating quotes > [When it comes to dating, Im straightforward and traditional with a twist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-pasqualino/when-it-comes-to-dating-im-straightforward-and-traditional-with-a/) [Luke Pasqualino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-pasqualino/) > [Dating someone on the opposite end of the happy spectrum teaches you an incredible amount of patience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pine/dating-someone-on-the-opposite-end-of-the-happy-spectrum-teaches-you/) [Chris Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pine/) > [An ex is an ex for a reason, they are an EXample of what you don't want in your future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexia/an-ex-is-an-ex-for-a-reason-they-are-an-example-of-what-you-don-t/) [Alexia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexia/) > [“To lovers out there… Pregnancy is the main reason why most couples are married today. Yet every day they ask themselves why they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/de-philosopher-dj-kyos/to-lovers-out-there-pregnancy-is-the-main-reason-why-most-couples-are/) De philosopher DJ Kyos > [Someone needs to make an app that alerts you every time your wife/girlfriend gets a haircut, so we don't forget to notice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/someone-needs-to-make-an-app-that-alerts-you-every-time-your-wife/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“My brother trolled recovery and support groups, searching for women with dependency issues, the way I frequented bookstores with the hope of finding a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-o-brien/my-brother-trolled-recovery-and-support-groups-searching-for-women/) Richard J. O'Brien > [“Are Seth and I seeing each other? Is that even possible? I mean, inter-realmal dating?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-klein/are-seth-and-i-seeing-each-other-is-that-even-possible-i-mean-inter/) [Katie Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-klein/) > [“There are exes with whom it is too dangerous to allow even a moment’s eye contact. These are not exes at all, and never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-wagner/there-are-exes-with-whom-it-is-too-dangerous-to-allow-even-a-moment-s/) Josh Wagner > [I don't really comment on my personal life because I feel like any comment at all is opening up a whole can of worms.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-hartnett/i-don-t-really-comment-on-my-personal-life-because-i-feel-like-any/) [Josh Hartnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-hartnett/) > [I started online dating in my 50s after two divorces. Trust me, if I can do it, anyone can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coleen-nolan/i-started-online-dating-in-my-50s-after-two-divorces-trust-me-if-i/) [Coleen Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coleen-nolan/) > [Being in a relationship isn't about the kissing, the dates,looks,or the showing off, it;s about being with someone who makes you happy in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-in-a-relationship-isn-t-about-the-kissing-the-dates-looks-or/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Serial dating: It's not just for breakfast anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-s/serial-dating-it-s-not-just-for-breakfast-anymore/) [Laura S](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-s/) > [We don't do 'dating' in Sweden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-winberg/we-don-t-do-dating-in-sweden/) [Caroline Winberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-winberg/) > [Ex boyfriends, are like an old pair of shoes. You know that you don't need them anymore but you don't have the heart to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/ex-boyfriends-are-like-an-old-pair-of-shoes-you-know-that-you-don-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Tell her that you love her hair, that you love her skin, her lips, because, in truth, you love them more than you love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/tell-her-that-you-love-her-hair-that-you-love-her-skin-her-lips/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) [Browse all 2,705 Dating quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dating/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Here's one thing I can't understand: people who are friends with their exes.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Timothy Hutton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-hutton/here-s-one-thing-i-can-t-understand-people-who-are-friends-with-their/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dating" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-hutton/here-s-one-thing-i-can-t-understand-people-who-are-friends-with-their/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6b/timothy-hutton-25965_exes_here-s-one-thing-i-can-t-understand-peop_1755804.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6b/timothy-hutton-25965_exes_here-s-one-thing-i-can-t-understand-peop_1755804.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6b/timothy-hutton-25965_exes_here-s-one-thing-i-can-t-understand-peop_1755804.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Here's one thing I can't understand: people who are friends with their exes.” — Timothy Hutton", "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": "Timothy Hutton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-hutton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Here's one thing I can't understand:...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-hutton/here-s-one-thing-i-can-t-understand-people-who-are-friends-with-their/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-hutton/here-s-one-thing-i-can-t-understand-people-who-are-friends-with-their/#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 } } ] } ```