Have you ever had that gut feeling telling you there’s a fake friend in your midst? You’ve looked up fake friends quotes, analyzed fake friends articles, and even talked to the rest of your friend group hoping to gain some clarity. But, how can you know for sure?
The most difficult thing about having a fake friend is admitting it to yourself. Chances are you’ve been friends with this person for years, you’ve shared the good and the bad, and you’ve been there for each other through thick and thin. Or at least that’s what you’ve done!
Fake friends are only there for you when it’s beneficial to them. Their support feels forced and disingenuous. Let’s be honest, how would it feel any other way when they disappear the moment you need their help?
And as if that’s not enough, fake friends are annoyingly competitive and they try to one-up you in every conversation. They always make you feel bad about yourself, drain your energy, and talk about you behind your back. How can you even consider them a friend at this point!?
Here’s the thing… If you think this friend is worth the hassle, you can always consider giving them an opportunity to change, work on themselves, and turn things around.
If they care about you enough, they will make the effort. Just don’t let them play you or manipulate you into thinking you’re being difficult.
But, if you think this friend’s hidden agenda has already gone too far, the best thing you can do for yourself is walk away. And if you’re having a hard time deciding, we have a bunch of fake friends quotes that can help you spot a fake friend a mile away. Let’s dive in!
Eye-opening fake friends quotes
So, how can you be sure you’re dealing with a fake friend? Think about it – do they talk about you behind your back? Do you feel like an outsider when you’re around them? Do you feel as if your friendship is one-sided?
Most of us turn a blind eye when we start noticing the red flags. It’s so much easier to drown all the questions, pretend everything is fine when all we want to do is scream “What’s wrong with you!?” and shake some sense into them.
You’re not alone! Here are some truly eye-opening fake friends quotes that might help you understand the situation, stay true to yourself, and focus on your own needs.
1. “Someone who smiles too much with you can sometime frown too much with you at your back.” – Michael Bassey Johnson
2. “You will never have to question the intentions or integrity of people who have your best interest at heart.” – Germany Kent
3. “A true friend never gets in your way unless you happen to be going down.” – Arnold H. Glasow
4. “Everybody isn’t your friend. Just because they hang around you and laugh with you doesn’t mean they are your friend. At the end of the day, real situations expose fake people, so pay attention.” – Unknown
5. “You should always put yourself first. It doesn’t matter who you lose as long as you don’t lose yourself.” – Unknown
6. “If you don’t like me, please don’t pretend that you do. There’s nothing I hate more in this world than fake friends. Just leave.” – Unknown
7. “If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.” – Maya Angelou
But wait, there’s more…
8. “Fake friends are like shadows: always near you at your brightest moments, but nowhere to be seen at your darkest hour. True friends are like stars, you don’t always see them but they are always there.” – Habeeb Akande
9. “How do you know you’re dealing with fake friends? Once they stop talking to you, they start talking about you… Behind your back.” – Unknown
10. “Stop texting and see how many dead plants you’ve been watering.” – Unknown
11. “Fake friends want to see you do good, but never better than them.” – Unknown
12. “Take a good look at your surroundings. Trust me, there are people in your life who eat at your table but talk about you as soon as you turn your back.” – Unknown
13. “When people act shady, allow them. When people betray your trust, allow them. But never, ever sink to their level. Their choices are a direct reflection of who they are, not who you are. No matter how angry, hurt, or disappointed you may be, do not allow them to make you bitter.” – Unknown
14. “Forget who hurt you yesterday, but don’t forget those who love you every day. Forget the past that makes you cry and focus on the present that makes you smile.” – Unknown
15. “People only throw shade on what’s shining.” – Genereux Philip
16. “You create more space in your life when you turn your excess baggage to garbage.” Chinonye J. Chudolue
17. “Controllers, abusers, and manipulative people don’t question themselves. They don’t ask themselves if the problem is them…they always say the problem is someone else.” – Darlene Quimet
18. “People make time for those they love. If they don’t make time for you, you’re not a priority to them.” – Unknown
And more…
19. “Don’t be scared to cut off people who make you feel insecure, less than, and not good enough. You’re better off without them. ” – Unknown
20. “Learn to say no to people who don’t respect your wishes, boundaries, and limits.” – Unknown
21. “It makes no sense to try to extend a friendship that was only meant to be a season into a lifetime.” – Mandy Hale
22. “You don’t lose real friends, real opportunities, or real relationships when you start standing up for yourself and setting clear boundaries. You lose abusers, manipulators, narcissists, control freaks, attention seekers, and mental-health destroying leeches.” – Unknown
23. “Fake friends need your attention, your reaction, and your insecurities. Once you hit them with your silence and your indifference they will lose all power over you.” – Unknown
24. “Some people think that the truth can be hidden with a little cover-up and decoration. But as time goes by, what is true is revealed, and what is fake fades away.” – Ismail Haniyeh
25. “Let them judge you, let them misunderstand you, and let them gossip about you. Their opinions aren’t your problem. You stay kind, committed to love, and free in your authenticity. No matter what they do or say don’t you dare doubt your worth or the beauty of your truth. Just keep on shining as you do.” – Scott Stable
26. “False friendship, like the ivy, decays and ruins the walls it embraces; but true friendship gives new life and animation to the object it supports.” – Richard Burton
27. “You lose nothing when you lose a fake friend.” – Unknown
28. “You must find the courage to leave the table if respect is no longer being served.” – Tene Edwards
29. “The funny thing is, when you don’t let people disrespect you, they start calling you difficult.” – Tom Hardy
Thought-provoking fake friends quotes
Another great way of making sure you’re dealing with a fake friend is observing their behavior when they’re celebrating your accomplishments. More times than not, a fake friend will diminish your success, act as if you haven’t done anything worth admiring, and say things like “Anyone could do that!”
Are you thinking of someone specific while reading this? You better run, girl! Nobody should be given the opportunity to steal your thunder and get away with it. Here are some thought-provoking fake friends quotes that might help you recognize whether you’re dealing with an imposter in your friend group.
30. “Before you count your friends, make sure you can count on them. Some friends are only around when they want something from you but are never there when you need something from them.” – Rashida Rowe
31. “Toxic people make you think you’re holding a grudge when you’re really holding a boundary.” – Warren Buffett
32. “A friend who stands with you in pressure is more valuable than a hundred ones who stand with you in pleasure.” – Edward G. Bulwer-Lytton
33. “If you choose to avoid certain people for your own mental and emotional health, you’re not weak. You’re wise.” – Unknown
34. “There’s a thin line between manipulation and love.” – Unknown
35. “It’s ok to step away from long friendships when they become unhealthy.” – Michael Bliss
36. “People are temporary. Don’t feel bad for outgrowing them.” – Unknown
37. “Time passes and you begin to see, people for who they really are and not who they pretend to be.” – Scarlet Koop
38. “You’re not making an effort to stay in my life? Fine, but don’t be surprised when I start doing things without you.” – Unkown
There’s more to go…
39. “No matter how good you are to them, fake friends will never be good to you.” – Unknown
40. “There is nothing I would not do for those who are really my friends. I have no notion of loving people by halves, it is not my nature.” – Jane Austen
41. “No response is a response in itself.” – Unknown
42. “Never give your attention to someone who deserves your silence.” – Emma Xu
43. “They’re not happy for you because they wish it was them.” – Carlos Wallace
44. “Not all toxic people are cruel and uncaring. Some of them love us dearly. Many of them have good intentions. Most are toxic to our being simply because…they aren’t inherently bad people, but they aren’t the right people for us. And as hard as it is, we have to let them go.” – Daniell Koepke
45. “Don’t worry if they’re ignoring you right now. They’ll need you later.” – Unknown
46. “Friendship isn’t a one-way street.” – Unknown
47. “Fake friends are like shadows; always near you at your brightest moments, but nowhere to be seen at your darkest hour.” – Khalil Gibran
48. “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
49. “Always sleep with one eye open. Never take anything for granted. Your best friends might just be your enemies.” – Sara Shepard
50. “You tell your friends your most personal secrets, and they use them against you.” – Sophie Kinsella
51. “Stop wasting your time on people who don’t have your best interest at heart. They will treat you well one day and act as if they don’t even know you the next.” – Unknown
And more…
52. “I’ve had to cut people that I love out of my life or distance myself from ‘friends’ not because I don’t love them but because they were causing unnecessary stress in my life. It’s worked so far, I’m happy me again.” – Nadine Barnes
53. “Buy a gift for a dog and you will be amazed at the way it will dance and swerve its tail, but if you don’t have anything to offer it, it won’t even recognize your arrival; such are the attributes of fake friends.” – Michael Bassey Johnson
54. “There are times when you have to give up on your friends. Not because you don’t care, but because they don’t.” – Unknown
55. “To hate is an easy, lazy thing, but to love takes strength everyone has but not all are willing to practice.” – Rupi Kaur
56. “I will never understand how people manage to fake entire friendships. I can’t even fake a smile.” – Unknown
57. “I no longer have the energy for meaningless friendships, forced interactions, or unnecessary conversations. If we don’t vibrate on the same frequency there’s just no reason for us to waste our time. I’d rather have no one and wait for substance than to not feel someone and fake the funk.” – Joquesse Eugenia
58. “True friendship can afford true knowledge. It does not depend on darkness and ignorance.” – Henry David Thoreau
59. “We teach people how to treat us.” – Dr. Phil
60. “Fake friends believe in rumors. Real friends believe in you.” – Unknown
61. “Stay away from lazy parasites, who perch on you just to satisfy their needs, they do not come to alleviate your burdens, hence, their mission is to distract, detract and extract, and make you live in abject poverty.” – Michael Bassey Johnson
62. “If people are hating on you it’s often because they are threatened by you, jealous of you, or feeling like you’re above them so they put you down to feel better about themselves. The greatest people have haters for a reason, so take it as a compliment.” – Jeanette Coron
Fake friends quotes that will inspire you to walk away
How can you be sure it’s the right moment to walk away? A fake friend will do everything in their power to make you feel bad about yourself. Not only will they talk behind your back, but they will sabotage you and manipulate other people into thinking there’s something wrong with you.
The best thing you can do is to trust your own gut. If someone in your friend group goes out of their way to make you feel bad, there’s no reason why you should keep them around. Don’t worry, here are some fake friends’ quotes that will inspire you to walk away!
63. “At some point you have to realize that some people can stay in your heart but not in your life.” – Sandi Lynn
64. “With success, comes the never-ending task of blocking or weeding out fake friends.” – Mokokoma Mokhonoana
65. “Share your weaknesses, share your hard moments, and share your real side. It’ll either scare away every fake person in your life or it will inspire them to finally let go of that mirage called ‘perfection,’ which will open the doors to the most important relationships you’ll ever be a part of.” – Dan Pearce
66. “People wear a mask of lies so they look attractive, so be careful.” – Muhammad Saqib
67. “I prefer to surround myself with people who reveal their imperfection, rather than people who fake their perfection.” – Charles F. Glassman
68. “An insincere and evil friend is more to be feared than a wild beast; a wild beast may wound your body, but an evil friend will wound your mind.” – Buddha
We’re not done yet…
69. “Being too nice is a crime today. Fake friends are everywhere around you. They will use you, and when you are of no use, throw you away like a wrapper.” – Shizra
70. “It’s impossible to resolve conflict with disrespectful people because they communicate with their ego.” – Colleen Sheehy Orme
71. “Fake friends complain about the one thing you haven’t done for them instead of being grateful for the thousand you have.” – Unknown
72. “You’re not asking for too much. You’re asking the wrong person.” – Unknown
73. “Only those who care about you can hear you when you’re quiet.” – Unknown
74. “Be very careful of who you share your problem with, remember that not every friend that smiles at you is your best friend.” – Kemmy Nola
75. “Some people are willing to betray years of friendship just to get a little bit of the spotlight.” – Lauren Conrad
76. “The word ‘friend’ is a label anyone can try on. You decide who is best suited to wear it.” – Carlos Wallace
77. “Make sure the lions you roll with aren’t snakes in disguise.” – Genereux Philip
78. “Don’t be so busy taking care of others that you forget to take care of yourself.” – Unknown
79. “Fake friends don’t care about you. If they did, they would make an effort rather than making an excuse.” – Unknown
80. “This too shall pass.” – Abraham Lincoln
81. “Don’t waste your time with explanations. People only hear what they want to hear.” – Paulo Coelho
82. “Everyone seems to have a clear idea of how other people should lead their lives, but none about his or her own.” – Paulo Coelho
83. “A mistake repeated more than once is a decision.” – Paulo Coelho
84. “Sometimes the person you’d take a bullet for ends up being behind the gun.” – Tupac
Not yet…
85. “What greater wound is there than a false friend?” – Sophocles
86. “Eliminate those fake friends who seem real when you have something and disappear when you have nothing.” – Rashida Rowe
87. “The worst part of success is trying to find someone who is happy for you.” – Bette Midler
88. “It is only the great-hearted who can be true friends. The mean and cowardly can never know what true friendship means.” – Charles Kingsley
89. “We are only as blind as we want to be.” – Maya Angelou
90. “You’re one decision away from a totally different life.” – Mel Robbins
91. “Once you figure out what respect feels like, it feels better than attention.” – P!nk
92. “As you get older, you can energetically feel the difference between people who love you and those who care at their own convenience.” – Unknown
93. “Sometimes people pretend you’re a bad person so they don’t feel guilty about the things they did to you.” – Unknown
94. “Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down.” – Oprah Winfrey
95. “Being betrayed is one of the most valuable lessons life can teach.” – Shania Twain
96. “You can’t always go by actions because some people will act like they love you just to get what they want from you.” – Sonya Parker
97. “No matter how many times a snake sheds its skin, it will always be a snake. Remember that before allowing certain people back in your life.” – Unknown
98. “Spend your time with those who love you unconditionally, not with those who only love you under certain conditions.” – Suzy Kassem
Fake friends quotes that will help you move on with your life
You can’t argue that life would be so much easier if people were open and honest about their intentions from the start. But, here’s the thing.
People change, so why wouldn’t their intentions change, too? More often than not, the people you considered the closest to you end up being the ones you need to move on from. You don’t have to have “the breakup conversation” with them, but you can simply take it upon yourself to match their effort.
And if setting boundaries and distancing yourself from them doesn’t break your friendship… Your fake friend might be more genuine than you think. While you think about that, here are some fake friends’ quotes that will help you come to terms with the situation and move on with your life.
99. “You gotta understand that some people never really grow. They never learn their lesson. They never recognize their mistakes, they never acknowledge their faults, and they never admit they were in the wrong. You will never receive an apology from them, and you will never see their behavior change.” – Unknown
100. “You don’t lose friends because real friends can never be lost. You lose people masquerading as friends, and you’re better for it.” – Mandy Hale
101. “Fake friends make a lot of promises they don’t keep.” – Unknown
102. “You don’t need to demand the things you deserve.” – Suhana Gupta
103. “Healing is about accepting, not forgetting.” – Kamilla Tolnø
104. “When I understood that forgiveness doesn’t mean re-entry, I was able to find peace.” – Alex Elle
105. “No one forced you to love me, so why did you need to pretend? Your lies have left me heartbroken.” – Shami Paulin
A couple more fake friends quotes…
106. “I’ve got more respect for someone who comes out and says they don’t like me than for the ones who act like they do but talk bad about me when I’m not around.” – Mitchell Perry
107. “We have to be cautious of who we allow in our circle because a frenemy can be more destructive than an enemy.” – Angel Moreira
108. “If you look at the people in your circle and you don’t get inspired, you don’t have a circle. You have a cage.” – Unknown
109. “Where you are a year from now is a reflection of the choices you make right now.” – Unknown
110. “We accept the love we think we deserve.” – Stephen Chbosky
111. “Growing up means realizing a lot of your friends aren’t really your friends.” – Unknown
112. “Life is too short to tolerate nonsense. Cut out negativity, ignore gossip, and let go of fake people and their drama.” – Unknown
113. “You stop explaining yourself when you realize people only understand from their level of perception.” – Jim Carrey
114. “Walk away from anyone and anything that disturbs your inner peace. Surround yourself with people who inspire you to push your limits, achieve greater things in life, and become the best version of yourself. Don’t let anyone’s negativity get to you.” – Unknown
115. “Eliminate what doesn’t let you evolve.” – Uknown
116. “Cutting off toxic people is the best thing you will ever do for yourself.” – Unknown
117. “When people are two-faced the only thing you’ll know for sure is that you can’t trust either of them.” – Unknown
118. “Cutting people out of your life doesn’t mean you hate them. It simply means you respect yourself.” – Unknown
And a couple more…
119. “There are no fake friends quotes that will do the dirty work for you. You should take your life into your own hands and do what needs to be done.” – Unknown
120. “You shouldn’t be disappointed to learn people talk behind your back. You should be pleased that they don’t have the guts to say it to your face.” – Unknown
121. “If the friendship is not working, your heart will know. It’s when you start being less than perfectly honest and perfectly earnest in your dealings. And it’s when the things you do together no longer feel right.” – Vera Nazarian
122. “An acquaintance merely enjoys your company, a fair-weather companion flatters when all is well, a true friend has your best interests at heart and the pluck to tell you what you need to hear.” – E.A. Bucchianeri
123. “True friends will always push you towards the great possibilities of your future, false friends will always chain you to the mistakes in your past.” – Seth Brown
124. “I despise the rituals of fake friendship. I wish we could just claw each other’s eyes out and call it a day; instead, we put on huge radiant smiles and spout compliments until our teeth hurt from the saccharine sweetness of it all.” – Jody Gehrman
125. “Don’t let negative and toxic people rent space in your head. Raise the rent and kick them out!” – Robert Tew
126. “The only way to win the game you play with a toxic friend is not to play at all. Simply leave the playground.” – Unknown
127. “There will be people in your life who won’t love you, but they will stick around because you love them. Once you remove them from your life you will find true happiness.” – Unknown
Fake friends quotes that will help you heal
Cutting ties with someone you once considered a friend doesn’t come without overthinking and overanalyzing the situation. You might feel as if the only way to get some closure would be to have an open conversation with them.
While there’s nothing wrong with doing what feels right at the moment, you should make sure you’re doing it for yourself. Stay true to your own boundaries and your own needs. And if everything else fails, here are some fake friends quotes that will inspire you to do what’s right for you and help you heal.
128. “Outgrow the people who aren’t growing with you.” – Unknown
129. “Don’t listen to the malicious comments of those friends who, never taking any risks themselves, can only see other people’s failures.” – Paulo Coelho
130. “It makes such a difference to go through life with a kind friend on the inside rather than a critic who is telling us how we’re messing up.” – Kim Fredrickson
131. “It takes a special kind of person to be a hater, but only a true loser will give the impression of being your friend while resenting every progress/success in your life.” – Cory Stallworth
132. “As you go through life, you will find that your acquaintances will be many, but only your true friends will share your pain as well as your pleasure.” – Heidi Catherine Culbertson
133. “Don’t be afraid. Change is such a beautiful thing.” – Sabrina Newby
134. “If you feel like you’re losing everything, remember that trees lose their leaves every year and still stand tall and wait for better days to come.” – Unknown
135. “Do not let the behavior of others destroy your inner peace.” – Dalai Lama
136. “If you want to lift yourself up, see who is bringing you down, and get rid of them.” – Jeffrey Fry
There’s more…
137. “But then I wondered if sometimes our friendships are a bit like clothes and when they start feeling uncomfortable it’s not because we’ve done anything wrong. It just means that we’ve outgrown them.” – Zoe Sugg
138. “Sometimes you just outgrow certain people. Don’t try to fix or repair it, just accept it and move on.” – Nitya Prakash
139. “Forget the ones who forget you. Let go of the ones who let go of you. ” – Unknown
140. “This year I only want to be around people who love me, not the people that pretend they do.” – Unknown
141. “What you allow is what will continue.” – Unknown
142. “Letting go of toxic people in your life is a big step in loving yourself.” – Hussein Nishah
143. “A friend is one that knows you as you are, understands where you have been, accepts what you have become, and still, gently allows you to grow.” – William Shakespeare
144. “We’re not lonely because we don’t have any friends; we’re lonely because those friends don’t always leave us feeling better for having spent time with them.” – Shasta Nelson
145. “What a desperate, pathetic fool I was. Time after time, my “friends” had shown me their true colors. Yet, I still wanted to believe they were sorry for causing me pain.” – Jodee Blanco
146. “If it comes, let it come…if it goes, it’s ok, let it go. Let things come and go. Stay calm, don’t let anything disturb your peace, and carry on.” – Germany Kent
147. “How to be happy – ignore people who think they know more about you than you do.” – John Edward
And more…
148. “You can’t change people, you can set your expectations. You can set boundaries and make decisions about how much time and effort you give, you can refocus your attention, and you can practice acceptance and let go. But you can’t mold someone into what you want or need them to be.” – Daniell Koepke
149. “Don’t go back to something God has already rescued you from.” – Mandy Hale
150. “One of the most courageous decisions you’ll ever make is to finally let go of what’s hurting your heart and soul.” – Brigette Nicole
151. “There’s an important difference between giving up and letting go.” – Jessica Hatchigan
152. “Letting go is the willingness to change your beliefs in order to bring more peace and joy into your life instead of holding onto beliefs that bring pain and suffering.” – Hal Tipper
153. “To heal a wound you need to stop touching it.” – Unknown
154. “If you really want closure, at some point you have to shut the door.” – Jacki Wells Wunderlin
155. “You don’t need closure from them. Their behavior is enough. Give yourself closure by knowing your worth, walking away, and honoring what you deserve.” – Unknown
156. “One day you’ll realize that all those nights you spent crying over something that didn’t work out were actually a blessing in disguise.” – Stephanie Benett-Henry
157. “If someone doesn’t value you, they deserve to lose you.” – Unknown
158. “Sometimes, the hardest and yet the most courageous thing to do is let go.” – Evan Sanders
159. “When you let go, you create space for something better.” – Unknown
160. “Letting go isn’t a one-time thing, it’s something you have to do every day, over and over again.” – Andie McPhee
161. “Some of us think holding on makes us strong, but sometimes it is letting go.” – Herman Hesse
Fake friends quotes that will give you hope
162. “Accept what is, let go of what was, have faith in what will be.” – Sonia Ricotti
163. “Some people take your energy and put you in a negative place. Sometimes you just have to walk away if this is a regular occurrence.” – Rachael Malloy
164. “I’m so proud of myself for every single decision I’ve made this year. From cutting people off to changing my priorities.” – Jade Hillary
165. “Deciding to finally cut ties with the people in your life who consistently hurt you isn’t enough; you must also decide to cut ties with the version of yourself who allowed that thing to continue for as long as it did.” – Unknown
166. “Today is your opportunity to build the tomorrow you want. Leave behind everything and everyone that’s holding you back.” – Unknown
167. “This is a reminder to you to create your own rule book and live your life the way you want it.” – Reese Evans
How to use these fake friends’ quotes?
Words have a mysterious way of healing our souls. There will be moments in your life when you will read something that will completely change the way you see the world around you. If the words you just read made you recognize a fake friend in your midst, you might want to use them as a constant reminder.
Find your favorite fake friend quote and print it out! You can put it in a frame and place it anywhere in your apartment. Whenever you catch glimpse of it, you will be reminded of your strength and perseverance.
Make your favorite fake friend quote your wallpaper! Every time you unlock your phone you will be pleasantly surprised. You will feel empowered and ready to take on whatever life throws at you. You can even switch it up every time you find a quote you can relate to.
Keep it in your wallet! You might even go a step further and make some handy quote cut-outs to keep in your wallet. You can whip them out every time you feel as if you need a little pick-me-up. They’re incredibly handy to share with your friends, too!
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