A sympathetic friend can be quite as dear as a brother.
—Homer (751–651 BCE) Ancient Greek Poet
Have friends. ‘Tis a second existence.
—Baltasar Gracian (1601–58) Spanish Scholar, Prose Writer
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
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
Friendship is like money, easier made than kept.
—Samuel Butler
Friendship improves happiness, and abates misery, by doubling our joys, and dividing our grief.
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
If you would win a man to your cause, first convince him that you are his true friend. Therein is a drop of honey that catches his heart, which, say what he will, is the greatest highroad to his reason, and which when once gained, you will find but little trouble in convincing his judgment of the justice of your cause, if, indeed, that cause be really a just one. On the contrary, assume to dictate to his judgment, or to command his action, or to make him as one to be shunned or despised, and he will retreat within himself, close all the avenues to his head and heart; and though your cause be naked truth itself, transformed to the heaviest lance, harder than steel and sharper than steel can be made, and though you throw it with more than Herculean force and precision, you shall be no more able to pierce him than to penetrate the hard shell of a tortoise with a rye straw.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
A friend is a person with whom I may be sincere. Before him I may think aloud. I am arrived at last in the presence of a man so real and equal, that I may drop even those undermost garments of dissimulation, courtesy, and second thought, which men never put off, and may deal with him with the simplicity and wholeness with which one chemical atom meets another.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
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
Words are easy, like the wind; Faithful friends are hard to find.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
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
If we listened to our intellect we’d never have a love affair. We’d never have a friendship. We’d never go in business because we’d be cynical: It’s gonna go wrong. Or She’s going to hurt me. Or, I’ve had a couple of bad love affairs, so therefore … Well, that’s nonsense. You’re going to miss life. You’ve got to jump off the cliff all the time and build your wings on the way down.
—Ray Bradbury (b.1920) American Novelist, Short Story Writer
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
Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
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
Your friendship is your needs answered.
—Danish Proverb
I do not want a friend who smiles when I smile, who weeps when I weep, for my shadow in the pool can do better than that.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
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
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
Only your real friends will tell you when your face is dirty.
—Sicilian Proverb
Remember, the greatest gift is not found in a store nor under a tree, but in the hearts of true friends.
—Unknown
Surround yourself with only people who are going to lift you higher.
—Oprah Winfrey (b.1954) American TV Personality
Awards become corroded, friends gather no dust.
—Jesse Owens (1913–80) American Track-and-Field Athlete
Be not the fourth friend of him who had three before and lost them.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater (1741–1801) Swiss Theologian, Poet
He who has not the weakness of friendship has not the strength.
—Joseph Joubert (1754–1824) French Writer, Moralist
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
A good friend who points out mistakes and imperfections and rebukes evil is to be respected as if he reveals a secret of hidden treasure.
—Buddhist Teaching
Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art, like the universe itself (for God did not need to create). It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things which give value to survival.
—C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) Irish-born British Academic, Author, Literary Scholar
Stay is a charming word in a friend’s vocabulary.
—Louisa May Alcott (1832–88) American Novelist
A friend hears the song in my heart and sings it to me when my memory fails.
—Anonymous