Be slow in choosing a friend, but slower in changing him.
—Common Proverb
Poor people will do almost anything to avoid problems. They see a challenge and they run … the secret to success, my friends, is not to try to avoid or get rid of or shrink from your problems; the secret is to grow yourself so that you are bigger than your problems.
—T. Harv Eker (b.1954) American Motivational Speaker, Lecturer, Author
Our friends interpret the world and ourselves to us, if we take them tenderly and truly.
—Amos Bronson Alcott (1799–1888) American Teacher, Writer, Philosopher
To gather with God’s people in united adoration of the Father is as necessary to the Christian life as prayer.
—Martin Luther (1483–1546) German Protestant Theologian
True friendship multiplies the good in life and divides it’s evils. Strive to have friends, for life without friends is like life on a desert island. To find one real friend in a lifetime is good fortune; to keep him is a blessing.
—Baltasar Gracian (1601–58) Spanish Scholar, Prose Writer
Human beings are born into this little span of life of which the best thing is its friendship and intimacies, and soon their places will know them no more, and yet they leave their friendships and intimacies with no cultivation, to grow as they will by the roadside, expecting them to keep by force of inertia.
—William James (1842–1910) American Philosopher, Psychologist, Physician
The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
—Arabic Proverb
Among true and real friends, all is common; and were ignorance and envy and superstition banished from the world, all mankind would be friend.
—Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792–1822) English Poet, Dramatist, Essayist, Novelist
Rare as is true love, true friendship is rarer.
—Jean de La Fontaine (1621–95) French Poet, Short Story Writer
For when two beings who are not friends are near each other there is no meeting, and when friends are far apart there is no separation.
—Simone Weil (1909–1943) French Philosopher, Political Activist
He who has not the weakness of friendship has not the strength.
—Joseph Joubert (1754–1824) French Writer, Moralist
A friend is one that knows you as you are, understands where you have been, accepts what you have become, and still, gently allows you to grow.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Don’t abuse your friends and expect them to consider it criticism.
—E. W. Howe (1853–1937) American Novelist, Editor
A true friend is the greatest of all blessings, and that which we take the least care of all to acquire.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
A man should choose a friend who is better than himself. There are plenty of acquaintances in the world; but very few real friends.
—Chinese Proverb
A Friendship that’s sincere are true. Gives joy like nothing else will do; That’s why glad hearts look up and send A prayer of thanks for faithful friends.
—Unknown
However rare true love may be, it is less so than true friendship.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Be not the fourth friend of him who had three before and lost them.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater (1741–1801) Swiss Theologian, Poet
So long as we are loved by others I should say that we are almost indispensable; and no man is useless while he has a friend.
—Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–94) Scottish Novelist
Friendship is essentially a partnership.
—Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar
With true friends, even water drunk together is sweet enough.
—Chinese Proverb
A true friend never gets in your way unless you happen to be going down.
—Arnold Glasow (1905–98) American Businessman
When friendship disappears then there is a space left open to that awful loneliness of the outside world which is like the cold space between the planets. It is an air in which men perish utterly.
—Hilaire Belloc (1870–1953) British Historian, Poet, Critic
Your friendship is your needs answered.
—Danish Proverb
Friends are as companions on a journey, who ought to aid each other to persevere in the road to a happier life.
—Pythagoras (570–495 BCE) Greek Philosopher
Friendship is a sheltering tree.
—Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772–1834) English Poet, Literary Critic, Philosopher
I am treating you as my friend, asking you to share my present minuses in the hope I can ask you to share my future pluses.
—Katherine Mansfield (1888–1923) New Zealand-born British Author
Every man, however wise, needs the advice of some sagacious friend in the affairs of life.
—Plautus (Titus Maccius Plautus) (c.250–184 BCE) Roman Comic Playwright
Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.
—Anais Nin (1903–77) French-American Essayist
Don’t walk in front of me, I may not follow. Don’t walk behind me, I may not lead. Walk beside me and just be my friend.
—Albert Camus (1913–60) Algerian-born French Philosopher, Dramatist, Essayist, Novelist, Author
There are friendships merely for pleasure, some for the exchange of ideas. Rarest are those friends of one’s inmost self.
—Baltasar Gracian (1601–58) Spanish Scholar, Prose Writer
A true friend unbosoms freely, advises justly, assists readily, adventures boldly, takes all patiently, defends courageously, and continues a friend unchangeably.
—William Penn (1644–1718) American Entrepreneur, Political leader, Philosopher
What sweetness is left in life, if you take away friendship? Robbing life of friendship is like robbing the world of the sun. A true friend is more to be esteemed than kinsfolk.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
Be slow to fall into friendship; but when thou art in, continue firm and constant.
—Socrates (469BCE–399BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher
False friends are like our shadow, keeping close to us while we walk in the sunshine, but leaving us the instant we cross into the shade.
—Christian Nestell Bovee (1820–1904) American Writer, Aphorist
Friendship improves happiness, and abates misery, by doubling our joys, and dividing our grief.
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
False friendship, like the ivy, decays and ruins the walls it embraces; but true friendship gives new life and animation to the object it supports.
—Richard Burton (1925–84) Welsh Actor
Camerado, I give you my hand, I give you my love more precious than money, I give you myself before preaching or law; Will you give me yourself?
—Walt Whitman (1819–92) American Poet, Essayist, Journalist, American, Poet, Essayist, Journalist
Are you willing to work sixteen hours a day? Rich people are. Are you willing to work seven days a week and five up most of your weekends? Rich people are. Are you willing to sacrifice seeing your family, your friends, and give up your recreations and hobbies? Rich people are. Are you willing to risk all your time, energy and start-up capital with no guarantee of returns? Rich people are.
—T. Harv Eker (b.1954) American Motivational Speaker, Lecturer, Author
Friendship is a disinterested commerce between equals; love, an abject intercourse between tyrants and slaves.
—Oliver Goldsmith (1730–74) Irish Novelist, Playwright, Poet
Words are easy, like the wind; Faithful friends are hard to find.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Friendship is like money, easier made than kept.
—Samuel Butler
If we would build on a sure foundation in friendship, we must love friends for their sake rather than for our own.
—Charlotte Bronte (1816–1855) English Novelist, Poet
I always felt that the great high privilege, relief and comfort of friendship was that one had to explain nothing.
—Katherine Mansfield (1888–1923) New Zealand-born British Author
It takes a long time to grow an old friend.
—John Loengard (1934–2020) American Photographer
Surround yourself with only people who are going to lift you higher.
—Oprah Winfrey (b.1954) American TV Personality
Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
Only your real friends will tell you when your face is dirty.
—Sicilian Proverb
Friendship will not stand the strain of very much good advice for very long.
—Robert Wilson Lynd (1879–1949) Irish Essayist, Critic
Friendship: Never explain—your friends do not need it, and your enemies will not believe it anyway. A real friend never gets in your way, unless you happen to be on the way down. A friend is someone you can do nothing with and enjoy it. However much we guard ourselves against it, we tend to shape ourselves in the image others have of us. It is not so much the example of others we imitate, as the reflection of ourselves in their eyes and the echo of ourselves in their words.
—Eric Hoffer (1902–83) American Philosopher, Author