--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Friendships are among the most…" description: "\"Friendships are among the most fundamental of human needs.\" — Tom Rath" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/360/tom-rath-3501_among_friendships-are-among-the-most-fundament_1363735.png" --- # Friendships are among the most fundamental of human needs. ![“Friendships are among the most fundamental of human needs.” quote by Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/360/tom-rath-3501_among_friendships-are-among-the-most-fundament_1363735.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/360/tom-rath-3501_among_friendships-are-among-the-most-fundament_1363735.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/360/tom-rath-3501_among_friendships-are-among-the-most-fundament_1363735.png) > “Friendships are among the most fundamental of human needs.” [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Friendship is a core human need essential for well‑being and fulfillment. **In simple terms:** Friends are essential for health. Key Takeaway Cultivate and value close relationships. Themes social connection well‑being human needs community support Mood encouraging warm Type self-help philosophical When to use this quote - workplace teams - family life - mental health programs Key Concepts psychology social health relationship building Questions to Reflect On - What friendships most support your growth? - How do you maintain them? A Different Perspective Friendship alone cannot replace other needs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Among](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/among/) [Friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friend/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Friendships](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendships/) [Friendships Fundamental](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendships-fundamental-4675242/) [Fundamental](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fundamental/) [Fundamental Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fundamental-human-1066059/) [Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human/) [Human needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-needs/) [Most](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/most/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) ## Related quotes > [Privacy is a fundamental human need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-schneier/privacy-is-a-fundamental-human-need/) [Bruce Schneier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-schneier/) > [Access to safe water is a fundamental human need and therefore a basic human right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/access-to-safe-water-is-a-fundamental-human-need-and-therefore-a/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [It strikes at a fundamental human need to be organized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-dubinsky/it-strikes-at-a-fundamental-human-need-to-be-organized/) [Donna Dubinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-dubinsky/) > [We see the world through the lens of all our experiences; that is a fundamental part of the human condition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-m-kunin/we-see-the-world-through-the-lens-of-all-our-experiences-that-is-a/) [Madeleine M. Kunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-m-kunin/) > [Music is a fundamental human right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustavo-dudamel/music-is-a-fundamental-human-right/) [Gustavo Dudamel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustavo-dudamel/) > [Education should be a fundamental human right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sal-khan/education-should-be-a-fundamental-human-right/) [Sal Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sal-khan/) > [It's one of the fundamental principles of the stock market: When interest rates go up, stocks go down. And along with financial companies and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-berenson/it-s-one-of-the-fundamental-principles-of-the-stock-market-when/) [Alex Berenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-berenson/) > [Among young people, often a key factor in them committing suicide is the trauma of transient relationships. They throw themselves into a friendship or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-nichols/among-young-people-often-a-key-factor-in-them-committing-suicide-is/) [Vincent Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-nichols/) > [It's a fundamental human right to decide to have children or not to have children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/it-s-a-fundamental-human-right-to-decide-to-have-children-or-not-to/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [Regardless of what the object of design is, humans need design. For anything humans use in their day to day life, they need design…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenji-ekuan/regardless-of-what-the-object-of-design-is-humans-need-design-for/) [Kenji Ekuan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenji-ekuan/) > [The drive toward the formation of metaphors is the fundamental human drive, which one cannot for a single instant dispense with in thought ,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/the-drive-toward-the-formation-of-metaphors-is-the-fundamental-human/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“This principle holds that a reconnection to the natural world is fundamental to human health, well-being, spirit, and survival.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-louv/this-principle-holds-that-a-reconnection-to-the-natural-world-is/) [Richard Louv](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-louv/) > [A fundamental element of human nature is the need for creative work, for creative inquiry, for free creation without the arbitrary limiting effects of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/a-fundamental-element-of-human-nature-is-the-need-for-creative-work-2/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Learning, like love, death and eating, are fundamental human activities. It's at the core of human existence and its character has a resilience of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-botstein/learning-like-love-death-and-eating-are-fundamental-human-activities/) [Leon Botstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-botstein/) > [Reconnection to the natural world is fundamental to human health, well-being, spirit, and survival.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-louv/reconnection-to-the-natural-world-is-fundamental-to-human-health-well/) [Richard Louv](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-louv/) ## More by Tom Rath > [Every day, I read about new ideas and research that could help someone I care about live a longer and healthier life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/every-day-i-read-about-new-ideas-and-research-that-could-help-someone/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [I've seen people be effective, even among local teams, by offering something that improves wellbeing in a small way - people who get passionate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/i-ve-seen-people-be-effective-even-among-local-teams-by-offering/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [“What great leaders have in common is that each truly knows his or her strengths - and can call on the right strength at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/what-great-leaders-have-in-common-is-that-each-truly-knows-his-or-her/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [If you want people to understand that you value their contributions and that they are important, the recognition and praise you provide must have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/if-you-want-people-to-understand-that-you-value-their-contributions/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [On average, spending time with your boss is consistently rated as the least pleasurable activity in a given day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/on-average-spending-time-with-your-boss-is-consistently-rated-as-the/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [“Once your brain initially processes something, you are less likely to retain the information if you are not physically active in the period following…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/once-your-brain-initially-processes-something-you-are-less-likely-to/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [I would absolutely recommend against excessive positivity and optimism. Any positive emotion that you're infusing into a workplace needs to be grounded in reality.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/i-would-absolutely-recommend-against-excessive-positivity-and/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [The vast knowledge we have to prevent cancer, heart disease, and other chronic illnesses is staggering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/the-vast-knowledge-we-have-to-prevent-cancer-heart-disease-and-other/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [Positive defaults protect you from yourself - and that helps you to make decisions in the moment that are better for your long-term interests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/positive-defaults-protect-you-from-yourself-and-that-helps-you-to/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [Making better choices takes work. There is a daily give and take, but it is worth the effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/making-better-choices-takes-work-there-is-a-daily-give-and-take-but/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [Having fewer unhealthy days and, in turn, more days when you have the energy to get things done is probably the global constant through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/having-fewer-unhealthy-days-and-in-turn-more-days-when-you-have-the/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [Even if people just change two or three things that they are able to sustain over time, it makes quite a difference eventually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/even-if-people-just-change-two-or-three-things-that-they-are-able-to/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [People with high levels of wellbeing have been careful to work out early in the morning and not to have heavy meals throughout the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/people-with-high-levels-of-wellbeing-have-been-careful-to-work-out/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [The absence of high-quality friendships is bad for your health, spirits, productivity, and longevity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/the-absence-of-high-quality-friendships-is-bad-for-your-health/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [I'm a researcher, so I'm realistic that there's nothing I'm doing that's going to prevent me from getting cancer in the future. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/i-m-a-researcher-so-i-m-realistic-that-there-s-nothing-i-m-doing-that/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) [Explore all 129 Tom Rath quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) ## More Among quotes > [My aim is to be counted among the top players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babar-azam/my-aim-is-to-be-counted-among-the-top-players/) [Babar Azam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babar-azam/) > [Regarding lack of vision or disabilities of the organ of sight, it has long been known among researchers that it is the effect of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-heindel/regarding-lack-of-vision-or-disabilities-of-the-organ-of-sight-it-has/) [Max Heindel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-heindel/) > [Most of the more celebrated names among African-American authors, poets, and artists are known to the world because of their association with specific cultural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aberjhani/most-of-the-more-celebrated-names-among-african-american-authors/) [Aberjhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aberjhani/) > [I stated that Hiroshima and Nagasaki are 'among the most unspeakable crimes in history.' I took no position on just where they stand on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-stated-that-hiroshima-and-nagasaki-are-among-the-most-unspeakable/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [I like to move among painters, mathematicians, psychologists, people who can tell me something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-woodcock/i-like-to-move-among-painters-mathematicians-psychologists-people-who/) [George Woodcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-woodcock/) > [I've seen people be effective, even among local teams, by offering something that improves wellbeing in a small way - people who get passionate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/i-ve-seen-people-be-effective-even-among-local-teams-by-offering/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [The best live among us in disguise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-dudek/the-best-live-among-us-in-disguise/) [Louis Dudek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-dudek/) > [Discord or jealousy inhibits the ability of the Holy Ghost to teach us and inhibits our ability to receive light and truth. And the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/discord-or-jealousy-inhibits-the-ability-of-the-holy-ghost-to-teach/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) > [These Americans are among the working poor with full-time jobs earning $5.15 an hour. Millions fall into this boat, even more when you consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcy-kaptur/these-americans-are-among-the-working-poor-with-full-time-jobs/) [Marcy Kaptur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcy-kaptur/) > [Heartless though it may seem to some, among the least harmful things to eat are sustainably culled wild animals. In the absence of natural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tristram-stuart/heartless-though-it-may-seem-to-some-among-the-least-harmful-things/) [Tristram Stuart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tristram-stuart/) > [When I campaign with seniors, it's always, 'Are you a Democrat or Republican?' But when I campaign on college campuses, they ask me where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-schock/when-i-campaign-with-seniors-it-s-always-are-you-a-democrat-or/) [Aaron Schock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-schock/) > [Among actors, I'd like to work with Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karan-soni/among-actors-i-d-like-to-work-with-alia-bhatt-and-ranbir-kapoor/) [Karan Soni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karan-soni/) > [I'm very happy to be among the best and to play with the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinicius-junior/i-m-very-happy-to-be-among-the-best-and-to-play-with-the-best/) [Vinicius Junior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinicius-junior/) > [To my mind, the main reason for the Depression in the United States as a whole, is the bondage of debt and the spirit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heber-j-grant/to-my-mind-the-main-reason-for-the-depression-in-the-united-states-as/) [Heber J. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heber-j-grant/) > [I have always been considered to be the most German among Italian economists, which I always received as a compliment, but was rarely meant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-monti/i-have-always-been-considered-to-be-the-most-german-among-italian/) [Mario Monti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-monti/) [Browse all 623 Among quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/among/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Friendships are among the most fundamental of human needs.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Rath" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/friendships-are-among-the-most-fundamental-of-human-needs/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Among" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/friendships-are-among-the-most-fundamental-of-human-needs/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/360/tom-rath-3501_among_friendships-are-among-the-most-fundament_1363735.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/360/tom-rath-3501_among_friendships-are-among-the-most-fundament_1363735.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/360/tom-rath-3501_among_friendships-are-among-the-most-fundament_1363735.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Friendships are among the most fundamental of human needs.” — Tom Rath", "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": "Tom Rath", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Friendships are among the most fundamental...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/friendships-are-among-the-most-fundamental-of-human-needs/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/friendships-are-among-the-most-fundamental-of-human-needs/#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 } } ] } ```