difference between few and a few

[Anonymous]

What is the difference between these two sentences

I have few friends.
I have a few friends.

Does the first sentences mean that I do not have any friend?

Please define the usage of these two words in detail.
thanks

 

[Francois]

I have few friends => you have not many friends (eg. you're not popular; people usually have more friends than you)
I have a few friends => you have some friends (nothing out of the way; you just say you have several friends).

I have quite a few friends => you have a lot of friends.

FRC