Never do a wrong thing to make a friend or to keep one.
—Robert E. Lee (1807–70) Confederate General during American Civil War
Your friend is your field which you sow with love and reap with thanksgiving.
—Kahlil Gibran (1883–1931) Lebanese-born American Philosopher, Poet, Painter, Theologian, Sculptor
And say my glory was I had such friends.
—William Butler Yeats (1865–1939) Irish Poet, Dramatist
My father always used to say that when you die, if you’ve got five real friends, then you’ve had a great life.
—Lee Iacocca (1924–2019) American Businessperson
In a bad marriage, friends are the invisible glue. If we have enough friends, we may go on for years, intending to leave, talking about leaving—instead of actually getting up and leaving.
—Erica Jong (b.1942) American Novelist, Feminist
Love demands infinitely less than friendship.
—George Jean Nathan (1882–1958) American Drama Critic, Editor
Friends show their love in times of trouble…
—Euripides (480–406 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
I value the friend who for me finds time on his calendar, but I cherish the friend who for me does not consult his calendar.
—Robert Brault
It is well, when one is judging a friend, to remember that he is judging you with the same godlike and superior impartiality.
—Arnold Bennett (1867–1931) British Novelist, Playwright, Critic
A friend who cannot at a pinch remember a thing or two that never happened is as bad as one who does not know how to forget.
—Samuel Butler
Friendships begin with liking or gratitude roots that can be pulled up.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
The sacrifices of friendship were beautiful in her eyes as long as she was not asked to make them.
—Saki (Hector Hugh Munro) (1870–1916) British Short Story Writer, Satirist, Historian
A day for toil, an hour for sport, but for a friend is life too short.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
The man that hails you Tom or Jack, and proves by thumps upon your back how he esteems your merit, is such a friend, that one had need be very much his friend indeed to pardon or to bear it.
—William Cowper (1731–1800) English Anglican Poet, Hymn writer
Every friend is to the other a sun, and a sunflower also. He attracts and follows.
—Jean Paul (1763–1825) German Novelist, Humorist
If I cannot understand my friend’s silence, I will never get to understand his words.
—Enoch Powell (1912–98) English Conservative Politician, Scholar
A friend is one who incessantly pays us the compliment of expecting from us all the virtues, and who can appreciate them in us. The friend asks no return but that his friend will religiously accept and wear and not disgrace his apotheosis of him. They cherish each other’s hopes. They are kind to each other’s dreams.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
It is not so much our friends’ help that helps us, as the confidence of their help.
—Epicurus (c.341–270 BCE) Greek Philosopher
Instead of loving your enemies, treat your friends a little better.
—E. W. Howe (1853–1937) American Novelist, Editor
Good fellowship and friendship are lasting, rational and manly pleasures.
—William Wycherley (c.1640–1716) English Dramatist
Friendship needs no words…
—Dag Hammarskjold (1905–61) Swedish Statesman, UN Diplomat
A man cannot be said to succeed in this life who does not satisfy one friend.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
A man never likes you so well as when he leaves your company liking himself.
—Anonymous
Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence. True friendship is a plant of slow growth, and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity before it is entitled to the appellation.
—George Washington (1732–99) American Head of State, Military Leader
Friendship, of itself a holy tie, is made more sacred by adversity.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
Never shall I forget the time I spent with you. Please continue to be my friend, as you will always find me yours.
—Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827) German Composer, Musician
In America every woman has her set of girl-friends; some are cousins, the rest are gained at school. These form a permanent committee who sit on each other’s affairs, who “come out” together, marry and divorce together, and who end as those groups of bustling, heartless well-informed club-women who govern society. Against them the Couple of Ehepaar is helpless and Man in their eyes but a biological interlude.
—Cyril Connolly (1903–74) British Literary Critic, Writer
There is a magnet in your heart that will attract true friends. That magnet is unselfishness, thinking of others first … when you learn to live for others, they will live for you.
—Paramahansa Yogananda (1893–1952) Indian Hindu Mystic, Religious Leader, Philosopher, Teacher
Every man can tell how many goats or sheep he possesses, but not how many friends.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
The good fellow to everyone is a good friend to no one.
—Hebrew Proverb
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