Quote Explained #1: Will Smith – If you’re absent during my struggle…

Jul 8, 2013 | Articles

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Quote Explained #1: Will Smith – If you’re absent during my struggle…
4.47 (89.44%) 390 votes

“If you’re absent during my struggle, don’t expect to be present during my success.” – Will Smith

What does it mean? 

Hard times will reveal your true friends. Those who fail to provide aid when you are in most need are just your general friends. These are Friends who are just there to hangout with because of a common interest or lifestyle. Yes these friends are indeed a ton of fun, but try not to rely on them when you need help.   You need to realize which are your true friends that you could count on when you are in moments of struggle.   Sometimes you will not know who your true friends are, and when they don’t carry through the help that you expect, it’s going to hurt.  You’ll be heartbroken during those times but will also learn a valuable lesson.  You live and you learn.

This quote defines and separates the real and fake friends.  Your true friends will be there and support you during your moments of struggle but only the worthy should deserve your sharing of fame, achievements and benefits during your success.

More Quotes by Will Smith

Throughout life people will make you mad, disrespect you and treat you bad. Let God deal with the things they do, cause hate in your heart will consume you too.
—Will Smith

Take the diplomacy out of war and the thing would fall flat in a week.
—Will Smith

Well, all I know is what I read in the papers.
—Will Smith

My skin is hard when it comes to my music. But with my movies, I’m still a virgin in a lot of ways. I’m not used to being shot down for no reason.
—Will Smith

I don’t know what my calling is, but I want to be here for a bigger reason. I strive to be like the greatest people who have ever lived.
—Will Smith

  • Martijn Brouns

    Perhaps the quote would be a lot more positive (and in line with the first ‘other’ quote) this way: “If you’re present during my struggle, I’ll make sure you won’t be absent during my success”

    • Victor Tang

      Can’t really change he said but i do agree with you.

      • Dee Figueroa

        Same thing..diffrent order

        • Martijn

          It’s the order of things, that can make a major impact. If your mind always starts with a “half empty glass”, life offers you a lot of unhappiness.

    • Argie Catubig

      quote is not merely positive, it is stating honestly what’s on your mind.

      • Martijn

        It’s life’s struggle to keep a positive mind. Even about the things that challenge you. I’d say ‘famous quotes’ should be able to inspire people in that direction. If they don’t, we should be able to comment. And,.. we do :)

        • Argie Catubig

          If you say famous quotes, it’s not really necessary that it should be inspiring, it is a phrase stated by some famous authors, personalities or maybe characters from a movie, and these quotes are meant for humor, some are sad, some are motivating and some are of course, inspiring. It is up to the readers on how they respond to it, it’s either positively or negatively.

        • star

          If you are not positively inspired by the quote, that is okay. Everyone has different life experiences which mean the way they interpret a famous quote is different. To me, and millions of others, this quote is positive. To me it is the most positively inspiring quote ever. There may be other quotes which might be more suitable for yourself. But as you said, the comment button is there for comments.

        • Gi Frances

          how about less judging and more looking within :)

    • Will Gregory

      Martijn, I agree with your comment. However, for me, I fully grasp the feeling in his quote; I lost everything after a layoff and have tried to regain some of it, there have been a couple of people that helped me but for some reason it’s mixed with ulterior motives and that made the help bitter sweet for sure. Sometimes, it’s hard to just change the words when the pain is still there, not that Will is bitter, just from my point of view, I would get that. But, I still like your suggestion! It makes me think that I can be a better person, even with the way I say things… thanks!

    • Suhrud

      It is the message to those people who live you in your troubles.
      It is more about telling such people that if I can’t expect from u,u also can’t…
      So it is better the way it is…
      Your +ve translation is cool but it doesn’t tell that I won’t be around you in my success…whereas quotes exactly tells that… hope you get the difference

      • Martijn Brouns

        Sure understand the difference: glass half full vs glass half empty. In the end, it’s Will’s second quote that best emphasizes the difference: “Throughout life people will make you mad, disrespect you and treat you bad. Let God deal with the things they do, cause hate in your heart will consume you too.”

    • star

      I don’t agree with you. Quotes don’t have to be positive. And anyway this one IS positive, spoken by a strong person who has been hurt. During my struggle, the people who I could reasonably expect to show me support (parents, brother), have done the complete opposite and made life difficult for me. the real support comes from people I wouldn’t even expect to have time for me. So why would I want to be part of any future success, people who kicked me when I am down?Karma. Sometimes it needs to be that way to protect yourself from further disappointment.

      • Martijn Brouns

        There’s no one better to comment on this than Will himself: “Throughout life people will make you mad, disrespect you and treat you bad. Let God deal with the things they do, cause hate in your heart will consume you too.”

        • star

          True, but in this situation it’s nothing to do with hate or God. It’s about protecting yourself. I don’t believe Will is talking about just anyone, he’s talking about people who he expected to stand by him in a struggle and they turned a blind eye,or kicked him when down. You don’t have to hate those people, just forget them.

    • Gi Frances

      Maybe you just need to stop seeing the order as negative, because I doubt he does. :) People aren’t mind readers, I’m sure he’s just a realist, how about you improve your perception

  • Nikunj

    U the man will……..