Not The Talmud. It's commonly credited to them, but the evidence shows it isn't theirs.
What the research foundNot in the Talmud: Midrash, Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 34; popularised as 'Talmud' by Polano (1876)
Evidence: sefaria.org · How we check
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“Man has three friends on whose company he relies. First, wealth which goes with him only while good fortune lasts. Second, his relatives; they go only as far as the grave, leave him there. The third friend, his good deeds, go with him beyond the grave.”
שְׁלֹשָׁה אֲהוּבִים יֵשׁ לוֹ לָאָדָם בְּחַיָּיו, וְאֵלּוּ הֵן: בָּנָיו וּבְנֵי בֵיתוֹ וּמָמוֹנוֹ וּמַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים
Text: Sefaria Vocalized Edition (public domain)
“Man has three friends on whose company he relies. First, wealth which goes with him only while good fortune lasts. Second, his relatives; they go only as far as the grave, leave him there. The third friend, his good deeds, go with him beyond the grave.” [Quotation attributed to The Talmud]. (n.d.). Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/18931-man-has-three-friends-on-whose-company-he/
“Man has three friends on whose company he relies. First, wealth which goes with him only while good fortune lasts. Second, his relatives; they go only as far as the grave, leave him there. The third friend, his good deeds, go with him beyond the grave.” Attributed to The Talmud. Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/18931-man-has-three-friends-on-whose-company-he/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.
“Man has three friends on whose company he relies. First, wealth which goes with him only while good fortune lasts. Second, his relatives; they go only as far as the grave, leave him there. The third friend, his good deeds, go with him beyond the grave.” Attributed to The Talmud. Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/18931-man-has-three-friends-on-whose-company-he/.