A friend is a present you give to yourself.
—Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–94) Scottish Novelist, Poet, Short Story Writer, Author
I keep my friends as misers do their treasure, because, of all the things granted us by wisdom, none is greater or better than friendship.
—Pietro Aretino (1492–1556) Italian Author, Playwright, Poet, Satirist
One loyal friend is worth ten thousand relatives.
—Euripides (480BCE–406BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist, Poet
The friend of my adversity I shall always cherish most. I can better trust those who helped to relieve the gloom of my dark hours than those who are so ready to enjoy with me the sunshine of my prosperity.
—Ulysses S. Grant (1822–85) American Head of State, Military Leader
Friendships are fragile things and require as much care in handling as any other fragile and precious thing.
—Randolph Bourne (1886–1918) American Writer, Scholar
Those who forgets their friends to follow those of a higher status are truly snobs.
—William Makepeace Thackeray (1811–63) English Novelist
Never do a wrong thing to make a friend or to keep one.
—Robert E. Lee (1807–70) American Military Leader, Engineer
A good friend is worth pursuing… but why would a good friend be running away?
—Ashleigh Brilliant (b.1933) British Cartoonist, Author
Every murderer is probably somebody’s old friend.
—Agatha Christie (1890–1976) British Novelist, Short-Story Writer, Playwright
The wise man does not permit himself to set up even in his own mind any comparisons of his friends. His friendship is capable of going to extremes with many people, evoked as it is by many qualities.
—Charles Dudley Warner (1829–1900) American Essayist, Novelist
It is well, when judging a friend, to remember that he is judging you with the same godlike and superior impartiality.
—Arnold Bennett (1867–1931) British Novelist
Friendships begun in this world will be taken up again, never to be broken off.
—Francis de Sales (1567–1622) French Catholic Saint, Clergyman
An open foe may prove a curse, but a pretended friend is worse.
—John Gay (1685–1732) English Poet, Dramatist
Your friends will know you better in the first minute they meet you than your acquaintances will know you in a thousand years.
—Richard Bach (b.1936) American Novelist, Aviator
My friends, there are no friends.
—Coco Chanel (1883–1971) French Fashion Designer, Businessperson, Entrepreneur
Instead of loving your enemies, treat your friends a little better.
—E. W. Howe (1853–1937) American Novelist, Editor
Your friend is who man who knows all about you, and still likes you.
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher
The world is round so that friendship may encircle it.
—Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (1881–1955) French Jesuit Philosopher, Priest, Paleontologist, Geologist
Good fellowship and friendship are lasting, rational and manly pleasures.
—William Wycherley (1640–1715) English Dramatist
A man’s friendships are one of the best measures of his worth.
—Charles Darwin (1809–82) British Naturalist, Scientist
Love demands infinitely less than friendship.
—George Jean Nathan (1882–1958) American Drama Critic, Editor
A friend that you have to buy won’t be worth what you pay for him, no matter what that may be.
—George D. Prentice (1802–70) American Journalist, Editor
Many a time from a bad beginning great friendships have sprung up.
—Terence Ancient Roman Playwright
Friendship should be a private pleasure, not a public boast. I loathe those braggarts who are forever trying to invest themselves with importance by calling important people by their first names in or out of print. Such first-naming for effect makes me cringe.
—John Mason Brown (1900–69) American Columnist, Journalist, Author
I hate it in friends when they come too late to help.
—Euripides (480BCE–406BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist, Poet
One loyal friend is worth ten thousand relatives.
—Euripides (480BCE–406BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist, Poet
We create our fate every day … most of the ills we suffer from are directly traceable to our own behavior.
—Sophie Swetchine (1782–1857) Russian Christian Mystic
An acquaintance that begins with a compliment is sure to develop into a real friendship.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Dramatist, Short Story Writer, Journalist, Writer
You cannot be friends upon any other terms than upon the terms of equality.
—Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924) American Head of State, Academic