--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People who have at least three or four…" description: "\"People who have at least three or four very close friendships are healthier, have higher wellbeing, and are more engaged in their jobs. But the absence..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cd/tom-rath-3501_absence_people-who-have-at-least-three-or-four-v_3022200.jpg" --- # People who have at least three or four very close… ![“People who have at least three or four very close friendships are healthier, have higher wellbeing, and are more engaged in their jobs. But the absence of any close friendships can lead to boredom, loneliness, and depression.” quote by Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cd/tom-rath-3501_absence_people-who-have-at-least-three-or-four-v_3022200.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cd/tom-rath-3501_absence_people-who-have-at-least-three-or-four-v_3022200.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cd/tom-rath-3501_absence_people-who-have-at-least-three-or-four-v_3022200.jpg) > “People who have at least three or four very close friendships are healthier, have higher wellbeing, and are more engaged in their jobs. But the absence of any close friendships can lead to boredom, loneliness, and depression.” [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. Close friendships boost health, wellbeing, and work engagement; lacking them can cause boredom, loneliness, and depression. **In simple terms:** Friendships improve health and happiness; isolation harms them. Key Takeaway Cultivate and maintain close friendships. Themes health wellbeing relationships work mental health Mood reflective encouraging Type advice motivational psychology When to use this quote - team projects - career networking - personal life - community events - support groups Key Concepts social support psychology resilience Questions to Reflect On - How can you deepen existing friendships? - What barriers prevent you from forming new close ties? A Different Perspective Quality matters more than quantity; friendships require effort and reciprocity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absence/) [Boredom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boredom/) [Close Friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/close-friend/) [Close friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/close-friends/) [Close friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/close-friendship/) [Friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friend/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Friendships](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendships/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Loneliness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loneliness/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Wellbeing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wellbeing/) ## Related quotes > [The disturbing truth we have to recognize is that Bourdain is not alone in his loneliness and depression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-domenech/the-disturbing-truth-we-have-to-recognize-is-that-bourdain-is-not/) [Ben Domenech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-domenech/) > [I missed him, of course, but sometimes close friendships have a tidal beat that pulls you towards different shores though the ocean that connects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-brand/i-missed-him-of-course-but-sometimes-close-friendships-have-a-tidal/) [Russell Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-brand/) > [Friends serve central functions for children that parents do not, and they play a critical role in shaping children's social skills and their sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zick-rubin/friends-serve-central-functions-for-children-that-parents-do-not-and/) [Zick Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zick-rubin/) > [Close friendships are one of life's miracles - that a few people get to know you deeply, all your messy or shadowy stuff along…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/close-friendships-are-one-of-life-s-miracles-that-a-few-people-get-to/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [Doubtless a good general rule for close friendships, where confidences are freely exchanged, is that what one is not informed about, one may not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-kronenberger/doubtless-a-good-general-rule-for-close-friendships-where-confidences/) [Louis Kronenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-kronenberger/) > [“Because we are invited to be part of God's new creation now, we seek to embody the identity we have been given in Christ.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuel-katongole/because-we-are-invited-to-be-part-of-god-s-new-creation-now-we-seek/) [Emmanuel Katongole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuel-katongole/) > [“Adult Warning Signs Lack of peer relationships outside the family Feelings of guilt or shame Difficulty with social skills such as keeping a conversation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-berent/adult-warning-signs-lack-of-peer-relationships-outside-the-family/) [Jonathan Berent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-berent/) > [“Does the Lord really expect us to be grateful when things aren't going well? 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While…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/a-study-by-sociologist-lynn-smith-lovin-had-found-that-the-number-of/) [Dalai Lama XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/) > [I enjoyed being involved in team sports and making close friendships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcbride/i-enjoyed-being-involved-in-team-sports-and-making-close-friendships/) [Brian McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcbride/) > [“Throughout our lives, no one could figure out how we were so close, but when friendships begin with cupcakes—chocolate, at that—no truer bond develops.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/throughout-our-lives-no-one-could-figure-out-how-we-were-so-close-but/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [Some of the choicest blessings of my life have been the close friendships I have experienced over the years. 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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. 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Ambedkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-r-ambedkar/) [Browse all 2,057 Absence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "People who have at least three or four very close friendships are healthier, have higher wellbeing, and are more engaged in their jobs. 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