He is our friend who loves more than admires us, and would aid us in our great work.
—William Ellery Channing (1780–1842) American Unitarian Theologian, Poet
True friends … face in the same direction, toward common projects, interests, goals.
—C. S. Lewis (1898–1963) Irish-British Academic, Author, Literary Scholar
The shifts of fortune test the reliability of friends.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
The lonely one offers his hand too quickly to whomever he encounters.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer
Forsake not an old friend, for the new is not comparable to him; a new friend is as new wine.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
Don’t believe your friends when they ask you to be honest with them. All they really want is to be maintained in the good opinion they have of themselves.
—Albert Camus (1913–60) Algerian-born French Philosopher, Dramatist, Novelist
It is difficult to say who do you the most mischief, enemies with the worst intentions, or friends with the best.
—Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton (1803–73) British Novelist, Poet, Politician
Friendship that insists upon agreement on all matters is not worth the name. Friendship to be real must ever sustain the weight of honest differences, however sharp they be.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
The more we love our friends, the less we flatter them; it is by excusing nothing that pure love shows itself.
—Moliere (1622–73) French Playwright
Ceremony is the smoke of friendship.
—Chinese Proverb
The miracle of friendship can be spoken without words… hearing unspoken needs, recognizing secret dreams, understanding the silent things that only true friend know.
—Indian Proverb
The ornament of a house is the friends who frequent it.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
A friend who is far away is sometimes much nearer than one who is at hand. Is not the mountain far more awe-inspiring and more clearly visible to one passing through the valley than to those who inhabit the mountain?
—Kahlil Gibran (1883–1931) Lebanese-American Philosopher, Poet, Sculptor
Friends and acquaintances are the surest passport to fortune.
—Arthur Schopenhauer (1788–1860) German Philosopher
One who knows how to show and to accept kindness will be a friend better than any possession.
—Sophocles (495–405 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
Love your friends as if they would some day hate you.
—Bias of Priene (fl.6th century BCE) Greek Orator
Treasure each other in the recognition that we do not know how long we shall have each other.
—Joshua L. Liebman (1907–48) American Rabbi, Author
I desire to so conduct the affairs of this administration that if at the end, when I come to lay down the reins of power, I have lost every other friend on earth, I shall at least have one friend left, and that friend shall be down inside of me.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
Every man passes his life in the search after friendship.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Friends should not be chosen to flatter.—The quality we prize is that rectitude which will shrink from no truth.—Intimacies which increase vanity destroy friendship.
—William Ellery Channing (1780–1842) American Unitarian Theologian, Poet
In the adversity of our best friends we often find something that is not wholly displeasing to us.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
I no doubt deserved my enemies, but I don’t believe I deserved my friends.
—Walt Whitman (1819–92) American Poet, Essayist, Journalist
Do not tell a friend anything you would conceal from an enemy.
—Arabic Proverb
It is easier to forgive an enemy than to forgive a friend.
—William Blake (1757–1827) English Poet, Painter, Printmaker
A real friend helps us think our best thoughts, do our noblest deeds, be our finest selves.
—Unknown
When my friends lack an eye, I look at them in profile.
—Joseph Joubert (1754–1824) French Writer, Moralist
We read that we ought to forgive our enemies; but we do not read that we ought to forgive our friends.
—Cosimo de’ Medici (1389–1464) Florentine Statesman, Banker
Words are easy, like the wind; Faithful friends are hard to find.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
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
Poor is the friendless master of a world; a world in purchase of a friend is gain.
—Edward Young (1683–1765) English Poet
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