The rule of friendship means there should be mutual sympathy between them, each supplying what the other lacks and trying to benefit the other, always using friendly and sincere words.
—Buddhist Teaching
The friend within the man is that part of him which belongs to you and opens to you a door which never, perhaps, is opened to another. Such a friend is true, and all he says is true; and he loves you even if he hates you in other mansions of his heart.
—Antoine de Saint-Exupery (1900–44) French Novelist, Aviator
‘Tis a great confidence in a friend to tell him your faults; greater to tell him his.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
If you’re going to sin, sin against God, not the bureaucracy; God will forgive you but the bureaucracy won t.
—Hyman G. Rickover (1900–86) American Naval Engineering Officer
By associating with good and evil persons a man acquires the virtues and vices which they possess, even as the wind blowing over different places takes along good and bad odors.
—The Panchatantra Indian Collection of Fables and Folktales
The friendship of a great man is like the shadow of a bush—soon gone.
—French Proverb
No man can have society upon his own terms. If he seeks it, he must serve it too.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Friendship neither finds or makes equals.
—Publilius Syrus (fl.85–43 BCE) Syrian-born Roman Latin Writer
There can be no friendship where there is no freedom. Friendship loves the free air, and will not be fenced up in straight and narrow enclosures.
—William Penn (1644–1718) American Entrepreneur, Political leader, Philosopher
Love is blind, but friendship closes its eyes.
—Unknown
Friendship will not stand the strain of very much good advice for very long.
—Robert Wilson Lynd (1879–1949) Irish Essayist, Critic
Friendship is essentially a partnership.
—Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar
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
No man is much pleased with a companion, who does not increase, in some respect, his fondness for himself.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
In times of difficulty friendship is on trial.
—Greek Proverb
Friendship is a word the vely sight of which im print makes the heart warm.
—Augustine Birrell (1850–1933) English Politician, Essayist
One friend in a lifetime is much, two are many, three are hardly possible. Friendship needs a certain parallelism of life, a community of thought, a rivalry of aim.
—Henry Adams (1838–1918) American Historian, Man of Letters
A home-made friend wears longer than one you buy in the market.
—Austin O’Malley (1858–1932) American Aphorist, Ophthalmologist
I have no trouble with my enemies. I can take care of my enemies all right. But my damn friends—they’re the ones that keep me walking the floor nights!
—Warren G. Harding (1865–1923) American Head of State, Businessperson
No man can be happy without a friend, nor be sure of his friend till he is unhappy.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
A true friend is the best possession.
—Unknown
As the yellow gold is tried in fire, so the faith of friendship must be seen in adversity.
—Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso) (c.43 BCE–c.18 CE) Roman Poet
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
Laugh and the world laughs with you;
Weep, and you weep alone;
For the sad old earth must borrow its mirth,
But has trouble enough of its own.
—Ella Wheeler Wilcox (1850–1919) American Poet, Journalist
We are all travelers in the wilderness of the world, and the best that we can find in our travels is an honest friend.
—Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–94) Scottish Novelist
Friendship is the shadow of the evening, which strengthens with the setting sun of life.
—Jean de La Fontaine (1621–95) French Poet, Short Story Writer
If thy friends be of better quality than thyself, thou mayest be sure of two things; the first, they will be more careful to keep thy counsel, because they have more to lose than thou hast; the second, they will esteem thee for thyself, and not for that which thou dost possess.
—Walter Raleigh (1552–1618) English Courtier, Navigator, Poet
The bird a nest
the spider a web
the human friendship.
—William Blake (1757–1827) English Poet, Painter, Printmaker
The rich know not who is his friend.
—Unknown
It is a good thing to be rich, it is a good thing to be strong, but it is a better thing to be beloved of many friends.
—Euripides (480–406 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
I cannot concentrate all my friendship on any single one of my friends because no one is complete enough in himself.
—Anais Nin (1903–77) French-American Essayist
I awoke this morning with devout thanksgiving for my friends, the old and the new.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
We control fifty percent of a relationship. We influence one hundred percent of it.
—Joyce Brothers (1927–2013) American Psychologist, Advice Columnist
Love your friends as if they would some day hate you.
—Bias of Priene (fl. 6th century BCE) Greek Orator
Loyalty is what we seek in friendship.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
A sympathetic friend can be quite as dear as a brother.
—Homer (751–651 BCE) Ancient Greek Poet
Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another; not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
Instead of loving your enemies, treat your friends a little better.
—E. W. Howe (1853–1937) American Novelist, Editor
Except in cases of necessity, which are rare, leave your friend to learn unpleasant things from his enemies; they are ready enough to tell him.
—Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. (1809–94) American Physician, Essayist
We cherish our friends not for their ability to amuse us, but for our ability to amuse them.
—Evelyn Waugh (1903–66) British Novelist, Essayist, Biographer
Friendship
I’ve discovered a way to stay friends forever—
There’s really nothing to it.
I simply tell you what to do
And you do it!
—Shel Silverstein (1930–99) American Children’s Books Writer, Poet, Short story Author, Playwright, Author, Songwriter
The only true solution of our political and social problems lies in cultivating everywhere the spirit of brotherhood, of fellow feeling and understanding between man and man, and the willingness to treat a man as a man.
—Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Explorer
It’s the ones you can call up at 4NULL a.m. that really matter.
—Marlene Dietrich (1901–92) German-born American Actor, Singer
The gift of friendship… a willingness to listen… a pair of helping hands… a whisper from the heart. That someone cares and understands.
—Indian Proverb
An ounce of blood is worth more than a pound of friendship.
—Spanish Proverb
The proper office of a friend is to side with you when you are in the wrong. Nearly anybody will side with you when you are in the right.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
Friendship may sometimes step a few paces in advance of truth.
—Walter Savage Landor (1775–1864) English Writer, Poet
If we were all given by magic the power to read each other’s thoughts, I suppose the first effect would be to dissolve all friendships.
—Bertrand A. Russell (1872–1970) British Philosopher, Mathematician, Social Critic
Friendship is a plant we must often water.
—German Proverb
Iron sharpeneth man; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith