--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Friendship is strengthened by...that…" description: "\"Friendship is strengthened by...that which ever so lightly elevates us from the trough of self-concern and self-devotion.\" — William F. Buckley, Jr" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a54/william-f-buckley-jr-3870_concern_friendship-is-strengthened-by-that-which_586067.png" --- # Friendship is strengthened by...that which ever so lightly… ![“Friendship is strengthened by...that which ever so lightly elevates us from the trough of self-concern and self-devotion.” quote by William F. Buckley, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a54/william-f-buckley-jr-3870_concern_friendship-is-strengthened-by-that-which_586067.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a54/william-f-buckley-jr-3870_concern_friendship-is-strengthened-by-that-which_586067.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a54/william-f-buckley-jr-3870_concern_friendship-is-strengthened-by-that-which_586067.png) > “Friendship is strengthened by...that which ever so lightly elevates us from the trough of self-concern and self-devotion.” [William F. Buckley, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-f-buckley-jr/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Friendship deepens when we uplift each other beyond self‑interest, fostering mutual growth and support. **In simple terms:** Elevate friends beyond self‑concern. Key Takeaway Support others to strengthen bonds. Themes friendship self‑transcendence growth Mood warm encouraging Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - team projects - community service - family gatherings - online forums Key Concepts mutual aid humility emotional intelligence Questions to Reflect On - How do you lift friends without losing yourself? - What actions show genuine support? A Different Perspective Self‑focus can hinder genuine connection. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Devotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devotion/) [Friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friend/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) ## Related quotes > [“Our bond of friendship strengthened over the year, and we became kindred spirits, even before we found love in each other.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-benedict/our-bond-of-friendship-strengthened-over-the-year-and-we-became/) [Charles Benedict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-benedict/) > [“And I realize ... it’s okay. It’s okay if St. Clair and I never become more than friends. His friendship alone has strengthened me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/and-i-realize-it-s-okay-it-s-okay-if-st-clair-and-i-never-become-more/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) > [The mental game of business is understanding this Paradox: the better you think you are doing, the greater should be your cause for concern:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mccormack/the-mental-game-of-business-is-understanding-this-paradox-the-better/) [Mark McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mccormack/) > [“Anything with that much power and that little control, that utter lack of concern for anything but self is evil in the most effective…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/anything-with-that-much-power-and-that-little-control-that-utter-lack/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [“There is one essential requirement for being close with a dying person: the letting go of self-concern.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-martensen/there-is-one-essential-requirement-for-being-close-with-a-dying/) Robert Martensen > [In some ways, America has grown up to be a masterpiece of self-concern.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-maclaine/in-some-ways-america-has-grown-up-to-be-a-masterpiece-of-self-concern/) [Shirley MacLaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-maclaine/) > [Everyone tells me I've had such an interesting life, but sometimes I think it's been nothing but stomach disturbances and self-concern.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-grant/everyone-tells-me-i-ve-had-such-an-interesting-life-but-sometimes-i/) [Cary Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-grant/) > [Those caught in the cycle of self-concern suffer helplessly, while the compassionate are more free and, implicitly, more happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-thurman/those-caught-in-the-cycle-of-self-concern-suffer-helplessly-while-the/) [Robert Thurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-thurman/) > [“And the self concern which is our torment, whether we know it or not, must find an antidote when we let our imagination stray…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-summers/and-the-self-concern-which-is-our-torment-whether-we-know-it-or-not/) Julie Summers > [If you seek reality you must set yourself free of all backgrounds, of all cultures, of all patterns of thinking and feeling. 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The Supermind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-howard/don-t-try-to-be-unafraid-that-is-impossible-rather-go-ahead-while/) [Vernon Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-howard/) > [Any kind of self-concern, including a self-concern that leads one to shut down and give up (as, for example, a fear to fail) is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-ferrell/any-kind-of-self-concern-including-a-self-concern-that-leads-one-to/) James E. Ferrell > [“And I suppose that what I have learned is a lesson that the years, or self-concern, had begun to hide from me, namely, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-lee-burke/and-i-suppose-that-what-i-have-learned-is-a-lesson-that-the-years-or/) [James Lee Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-lee-burke/) ## More by William F. 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I became…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-barker/i-m-a-vegetarian-i-think-there-s-a-strong-possibility-had-i-not/) [Bob Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-barker/) > [What really concerns me is for Christians to understand the fundamentals of evangelism in a way that is helpful in the contemporary scene.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/what-really-concerns-me-is-for-christians-to-understand-the/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [I'm not interested in making a diagnostic novel or a concern. I'm 100 percent committed in fiction to the pleasure principle - that's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/i-m-not-interested-in-making-a-diagnostic-novel-or-a-concern-i-m-100/) [Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/) > [I am sympathetic to developing countries’ concerns: because of our emissions it’s their crops that will disappear; because of our inaction, it’s their fields…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/i-am-sympathetic-to-developing-countries-concerns-because-of-our/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [Meanwhile, the trees were just as green as before; the birds sang and the sun shone as clearly now as ever. 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