a friend in need is a friend indeed

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English

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WOTD – 19 August 2021

Etymology

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The idea that false friends will abandon a person in times of adversity while true friends will reveal themselves and provide help is ancient: the Greek playwright Euripides (c. 480 – c. 406 BC) wrote in Hecuba (424 BC), ἐν τοῖς κακοῖς γὰρ ἁγαθοὶ σαφέστατοι φίλοι: τὰ χρηστὰ δ’ αὔθ’ ἕκαστ’ ἔχει φίλους (en toîs kakoîs gàr hagathoì saphéstatoi phíloi: tà khrēstà d’ aúth’ hékast’ ékhei phílous, “it is in trouble’s hour that the good most clearly show their friendship; though prosperity by itself in every case finds friends”), and the Roman poet Ennius (c. 239 – c. 169 BC) observed in his Tragedies that amicus certus in re incerta cernitur (“a sure friend is known in unsure times”).[1][2]

Pronunciation

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Proverb

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a friend in need is a friend indeed

  1. If a friend helps one when one is in need, that person is a true friend.
    • 1658, The English Schole-master; or Certaine Rules and Helpes, whereby the Natives of the Netherlandes, may bee, in a Short Time, Taught to Read, Understand, and Speake the English Tongue. […], Amsterdam: […] Iohn Bouman, →OCLC, page 96:
      A friend in need is a friend indeed, Een vrient in noot / is een vrient in der daet.
    • 1661 May 3, John Bramhall, “Discourse III. A Sermon Preached at Dublin, upon the 23. of April, 1661 [Julian calendar], being the Day Appointed for His Majesties Coronation; […]”, in Jo[hn] Lymeric [pseudonym; John Vesey], editor, The Works of the Most Reverend Father in God, John Bramhall D.D. […], Dublin: […] His Majesties Printing-House, published 1676, →OCLC, tome IV, page 955:
      Every one is a kinſman to him that is proſperous, but a friend in need is a friend indeed.
    • 1756, “Sect. XVI.”, in The Fortune-teller; or, The Footman Ennobled. […], volume II, London: […] F. Noble […]; and J. Noble, […], →OCLC, page 235:
      It is a true ſaying, my Ingenio, that a Friend in need, is a Friend indeed, as I doubt not but you will be fully apprized, upon peruſal of what I here ſend you.
    • 1795, Frederick Schiller [i.e., Friedrich Schiller], translated by [Alexander Fraser Tytler, Lord Woodhouselee], The Robbers. A Tragedy. […], 2nd edition, London: […] G. G. and J. Robinson, […], →OCLC, act II, page 57:
      A friend in need is a friend indeed, ſay I;—but you can't judge of it.—No,—unleſs you had the rope about your neck, and were walking all alive to your grave.
    • 1802 February 3, Aaron Ogden, “Judiciary System [Third Reading of the bill to repeal certain acts respecting the organization of the Courts of the United States, and for other purposes]”, in The Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States; […] (United States Senate, 7th Congress), Washington, D.C.: […] Gales and Seaton, published 1851, →OCLC, column 178:
      The gentlemen on the other side of the House have been peculiarly called the friends of the people; remember a friend in need is a friend indeed. Is there, then, no some one who will step out from among them to save this tottering branch of our Government from falling!
    • 1875, J[ohn] Murdoch, “Companions and Neighbours”, in The Indian Student’s Manual. Hints on Studies, Moral Conduct, Religious Duties, and Success in Life, Madras, Tamil Nadu: The Christian Vernacular Education Society;  […], →OCLC, page 172:
      Friends should be ready to assist each other. Kind offices ought never to be omitted, but they are especially called for in seasons of affliction. "A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." "A friend in need is a friend indeed."
    • 1958 September, Marvin L. Middlebrooks, “[Letter to the magazine]”, in Flying, volume 63, number 3, Chicago, Ill.: Ziff-Davis Publishing Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 8:
      I had a flight plan to cancel so asked if there were a telephone near. Mr. Littrell said his neighbor across the way had one. He was happy to drive us there—about three miles across some fields that would shake your eye teeth out. […] They say “a friend in need is a friend indeed.” Mr. Littrell proved it. I am grateful.
    • 1999, Thomas William, chapter 20, in The Alaskan Saga of Thomas Churchill O’Brien, Lincoln, Neb.: toExcel, iUniverse, →ISBN, page 87:
      But I sat there trying to pretend that everything was OK, that this wasn't happening, trying to think instead of all the good things that happened to me in my life, trying to think of some important person I knew who could help me, but I couldn't think of anyone. A friend in need is a friend, indeed, and I sure could have used one then.
    • 2007 March 8, Charles E[llis] Schumer, “Opening Statement of Hon. Charles E. Schumer, Chairman, a U.S. Senator from New York”, in Addressing the Problem of African-American Male Unemployment: Hearing before the Joint Economic Committee, Congress of the United States, One Hundred Tenth Congress, First Session […] (S. Hrg. 110-107), Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, →ISBN, page 9:
      […] I'm going to turn over the chair to my friend, colleague, and at this point someone—a friend in need is a friend indeed—Senator [Amy] Klobuchar.
    • 2010, Lee Myung-bak, “Foreword”, in Jai Ok Shim, James F. Larson, Frederick F. Carriere, Horace H. Underwood, Fulbright in Korea’s Future: A 60th Anniversary Commemorative History, Seoul, South Korea: Seoul Selection, →ISBN, page vii:
      There is a well-known proverb, "A friend in need is a friend indeed." Americans have always been our true friends. They stretched out warm helping hands to us when we were in direst need. The Fulbright Program, which was initiated in the throes of the Korean War, has been one such helping hand.
  2. If a friend is in need of help, it is beneficial and wise to help them.
    • 2011, Paul A. Rose, “Saturday; Love is in the Air”, in Los Hombres de Bolton (The Men from Bolton), Kibworth Beauchamp, Leicester: Matador, →ISBN, page 153:
      'Stan!' Ian replies, with a hurt look on his face. 'Would I do a thing like that? I'm just here to give you moral support. I reckon you're going to need all the help you can get. You know what they say; a friend in need is a friend indeed.'/ 'Or in your mind, a friend in need is a soft target. Now piss off!'
    • 2011, Appau Ama Tiwaa, Our Perfect Moment, [Bloomington, Ind.]: Xlibris, →ISBN, page 81:
      "You know, they say a friend in need is a friend indeed. I donated blood, but others even donate hearts, so after all, I feel pretty good that my friend is now safe from the little blood I could drop," Katy said passionately.

Usage notes

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  • The phrase is ambiguous; the second sense (“a friend [who is] in need is a friend indeed”) arose from a misunderstanding of the original meaning (“a friend [who is there when you are] in need is a friend indeed”).

Translations

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The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Translations to be checked

See also

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References

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  1. ^ “a friend in need is a friend indeed (also in deed), proverb” under “friend, n. and adj.”, in OED Online Paid subscription required⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, June 2021; “a friend in need is a friend indeed, phrase”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
  2. ^ Julia Cresswell (2007) The Cat’s Pyjamas: The Penguin Book of Clichés, London: Penguin, →ISBN.

Further reading

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  • Gregory Y. Titelman (1996) Random House Dictionary of Popular Proverbs & Sayings, New York, N.Y.: Random House, →ISBN, page 107.
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