"If you want to know who your friends are, get yourself a jail sentence"

This quote by Charles Bukowski recommends that when one remains in a tight spot, it can be a great way to test the loyalty of one's good friends. When one remains in jail, it can be challenging to maintain relationships with those beyond the jail walls. Those who remain devoted and helpful of the person in jail are likely real friends, while those who desert them are most likely not true good friends. This quote suggests that it is just in challenging times that a person can really understand who their friends are. It is a tip to be conscious of who one chooses to surround themselves with, as it is just in challenging times that a person can genuinely understand who their good friends are. It is also a pointer to be devoted and supportive of one's friends, as they may be tested in challenging times.