What does it mean by 'a friend in need is a friend indeed'?

Question

It refers to people who are in need or people who help?

Can you give me explanation about this?

There are many meanings given by answerers here, but mostly there are two meanings i can see:

1- it means that friends who are there when we need them are true friends.

2- it means that friends only come to you when they need help.

Which one is mostly correct?

Answer 1

Someone is supposed to be your friend. They forget to meet you at the mall. Oh, well, they're still your friend.

You want to borrow their cell phone to make a call. They tell you they're out of minutes. Oh, well, they're still your friend.

They were supposed to send you that recipe before the dinner party. They forgot. Oh, well, they're still your friend.

However, they suddenly need to borrow a hundred dollars. NOW they're a REAL friend. They promise to meet you on time, and to let you use the cell when you want, and to come cook for your dinner party...yes...a friend in need...they're suddenly a really good friend. Indeed.

Answer 2

There are two people in this scenario.

Immature people think person #1 is in need so they don't understand the proverb.

Mature people know that it's person #2 being referred to, so they do understand.

Do they ask this question on IQ tests? If so, it would go a long way toward improving those tests. You need a heart as well as a brain to figure it out!!!

Answer 3

Actually, it was a misspelling that lead to all the confusion. A long time ago, in a galaxy far away, a young lad sat crying alone on his bed. His dream? To have a friend; a companion to share life with. His dilema? He was ugly, fat, poor, deaf, mute, foreign, stupid, mean and smelly. His father, who also had the same problem as a child, used the same solution his parents had. He went out and bought a slave. A slave female, who would be a friend "in deed". Did I mention the lad was a half breed?

Answer 4

Means that when you really have a problem only your real friend will be there to give you hand. Haven't you notice that in the worst moments of your live the people you think they are your friends they never around? Well if in that moment a person gets close to you to offer help that's your real friend. You can have many known people, but only a few friends, real friends can be counted with one hand fingers.

Answer 5

A friend in need is a friend indeed. It's a sarcastic phrase. A "friend" who needs something from you will appear to be your friend simply because they need something. It's a manipulative ploy; offering a token gesture of friendship to get what they want.

I KNOW the intended meaning. Just twisting things a bit, shaking it up.

Answer 6

When a person is successfull and everything is going well, that person will find it easy to make and keep friends. But if he should lose his fortune, or get sick or maybe go to jail, those who remain commited to him even though he is on the outs are friends indeed.

Answer 7

The friend here refers to the person who sticks it out with you in moments when you needed somebody..

Answer 8

A friend in need is one whom you may be able to assist. Small problems may be helped with a kind word. Bigger ones may need referring elsewhere. You will have done your best.
Love, Rose P.

Answer 9

It means a person who remains a friend to you when you are going through tough times and adversity is one who is a true friend. Others, who just hook up with you to bask in your popularity then disappear when you have troubles are not.

Answer 10

there are many reference in this word but i think i can start with these; whenever a person is despress he or she might need the comfort of another and so does the person when he or she is in need when the time comes.