It’s not how many friends you can count, it’s how many of those you can count on.

The aphorism contrasts social quantity with relational quality: a large circle of acquaintances is less meaningful than a smaller number of dependable people. By shifting from “count” (a numerical tally) to “count on” (reliance), it highlights trust, loyalty, and practical support as the real measure of friendship. The line also critiques status-driven socializing—collecting “friends” for appearance or popularity—by implying that adversity is the true test of connection. Its compact parallel structure makes it memorable and suitable as advice about choosing companions, investing in reciprocity, and valuing reliability over mere familiarity.