Life is the continuous adjustment of internal relations to external relations.
—Herbert Spencer (1820–1903) English Polymath, Philosopher, Sociologist, Political Theorist
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
There is nothing meritorious but virtue and friendship.
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English Poet, Translator
Friends and acquaintances are the surest passport to fortune.
—Arthur Schopenhauer (1788–1860) German Philosopher
Winter, spring, summer or fall|All you have to do is call|And I’ll be there,|You’ve got a friend.
—Carole King (b.1942) American Singer, Songwriter, Musician
No one person can possibly combine all the elements supposed to make up what everyone means by friendship.
—Francis Marion Crawford (1854–1909) Italian-born American Novelist, Writer
Love your friends as if they would some day hate you.
—Bias of Priene Ancient Greek Philosopher
Sooner or later you’ve heard all your best friends have to say. Then comes the tolerance of real love.
—Ned Rorem
In reality, we are still children. We want to find a playmate for our thoughts and feelings.
—Wilhelm Stekel (1868–1940) Austrian Physician, Psychologist
We cherish our friends not for their ability to amuse us, but for ours to amuse them.
—Evelyn Waugh (1903–66) English Novelist, Humorist, Writer
God may forgive your sins, but your nervous system won’t.
—Alfred Korzybski (1879–1950) Polish-born American Philosopher, Scientist, Mathematician
Love me, please; I love you; I can bear to be your friend. So ask of me anything … I am not a tentative person. Whatever I do I give up my whole self to it.
—Edna St. Vincent Millay (1892–1950) American Poet, Playwright, Feminist
The influence of each human being on others in this life is a kind of immortality.
—John Quincy Adams (1767–1848) American Head of State, Lawyer
The antidote for fifty enemies is one friend.
—Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar
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
Your friend is who man who knows all about you, and still likes you.
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher
The bird a nest, the spider a web, man friendship.
—William Blake (1757–1827) English Poet, Painter, Printmaker
The person who tries to live alone will not succeed as a human being. His heart withers if it does not answer another heart. His mind shrinks away if he hears only the echoes of his own thoughts and finds no other inspiration.
—Pearl S. Buck (1892–1973) American Novelist, Human Rights Activist
Don’t abuse your friends and expect them to consider it criticism.
—E. W. Howe (1853–1937) American Novelist, Editor
Peace and friendship with all mankind is our wisest policy, and I wish we may be permitted to pursue it.
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
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
Every man rejoices twice when he has a partner in his joy. He who shares tears with us wipes them away. He divides them in two, and he who laughs with us makes the joy double.
—Fulton J. Sheen (1895–1979) American Catholic Religious Leader, Theologian
We are all travelers in the desert of life and the best we can find in our journey is an honest friend.
—Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–94) Scottish Novelist, Poet, Short Story Writer, Author
True wealth can not be found in your bank account.
It can only be found in those you call friends.
Those with whom you share your deepest feelings.
And those who accept you for who you really are.
—Mary Vandergrift
Friendship with the evil is like the shadow in the morning, decreasing every hour; but friendship with the good is like the evening shadows, increasing till the sun of life sets.
—Johann Gottfried Herder (1744–1803) German Lutheran Philosopher, Theologian, Poet, Literary Critic
One loyal friend is worth ten thousand relatives.
—Euripides (480BCE–406BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist, Poet
When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares.
—Henri Nouwen (1932–96) Dutch Catholic Priest, Writer, Theologian
Friendship is a word the vely sight of which im print makes the heart warm.
—Augustine Birrell (1850–1933) English Politician, Barrister, Academic, Author
Friendship increases in visiting friends, but in visiting them seldom.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher, Political leader, Scientist, Lawyer
Friendships aren’t perfect and yet they are very precious. For me, not expecting perfection all in one place was a great release.
—Letty Cottin Pogrebin (b.1939) American Writer, Journalist
A good friend can tell you what is the matter with you in a minute. He may not seem such a good friend after telling.
—Arthur Brisbane (1864–1936) American Journalist, Editor
An average man is too concerned with liking people or with being liked himself. A warrior likes, that’s all. He likes whatever or whomever he wants, for the hell of it.
—Carlos Castaneda (1925–98) Peruvian-born American Anthropologist, Author
One doesn’t know, till one is a bit at odds with the world, how much one’s friends who believe in one rather generously, mean to one.
—D. H. Lawrence (1885–1930) English Novelist, Playwright, Poet, Essayist, Literary Critic
If you wish success in life, make perseverance your bosom friend, experience your wise counselor, caution your elder brother and hope your guardian genius.
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
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)
You can always tell a real friend; when you’ve made a fool of yourself he doesn’t feel you’ve done a permanent job.
—Laurence J. Peter (1919–90) Canadian-born American Educator, Author
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
We read that we ought to forgive our enemies; but we do not read that we ought to forgive our friends.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher, Political leader, Scientist, Lawyer
Good friendships are fragile things and require as much care as any other fragile and precious thing.
—Randolph Bourne (1886–1918) American Writer, Scholar
I cannot even imagine where I would be today were it not for that handful of friends who have given me a heart full of joy. Let’s face it, friends make life a lot more fun.
—Chuck Swindoll (b.1934) American Christian Pastor, Author, Educator, Radio Personality
I have always looked at life as a voyage, mostly wonderful, sometimes frightening. In my family and friends I have discovered treasure more valuable than gold.
—Jimmy Buffett (b.1946) American Children’s Books Writer, Musician, Author
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
A man with few friends is only half-developed; there are whole sides of his nature which are locked up and have never been expressed. He cannot unlock them himself, he cannot even discover them; friends alone can stimulate him and open him.
—Randolph Bourne (1886–1918) American Writer, Scholar
The most called-upon prerequisite of a friend is an accessible ear.
—Maya Angelou (1928–2014) African-American Poet, Author, Civil Rights Activist
Friendship is like money, easier made than kept.
—Samuel Butler
Friendship that flows from the heart cannot be frozen by adversity, as the water that flows from the spring cannot congeal in winter.
—James Fenimore Cooper (1789–1851) American Novelist
To let friendship die away by negligence and silence, is certainly not wise. It is voluntarily to throw away one of the greatest comforts of this weary pilgrimage.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist, Biographer, Poet, Writer, Literary Critic
Since there is nothing so well worth having as friends, never lose a chance to make them.
—Francesco Guicciardini (1483–1540) Italian Historian, Political leader
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, Biographer, Poet, Writer, Literary Critic
The real friend is he or she who can share all our sorrow and double our joys.
—B. C. Forbes (1880–1954) Scottish-born American Journalist, Publisher
To accept a favor from a friend is to confer one.
—John Churton Collins (1848–1908) English Literary Critic
Acquaintance I would have, but when’t depends not on the number, but the choice of friends.
—Abraham Cowley (1618–67) English Poet
Prosperity is not just scale; adversity is the only balance to weigh friends.
—Plutarch (45–120) Ancient Greek Historian, Biographer, Essayist
Shared joys make a friend, not shared sufferings.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Author
You cannot be friends upon any other terms than upon the terms of equality.
—Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924) American Head of State, Academic
Let us never adopt the maxim, Rather lose our friend than our jest.
—Quintilian Roman Critic, Writer
Unless you bear with the faults of a friend you betray your own.
—Publilius Syrus Syrian-born Latin Writer
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
A friend is a present you give to yourself.
—Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–94) Scottish Novelist, Poet, Short Story Writer, Author
Yes we are (friends) and I do like to pass the day with you in serious and inconsequential chatter. I wouldn’t mind washing up beside you, dusting beside you, reading the back half of the paper while you read the front. We are friends and I would miss you, do miss you and think of you very often. I don’t want to lose this happy space where I have found someone who is smart and easy and doesn’t bother to check her diary when we arrange to meet.
—Jeanette Winterson (b.1959) English Novelist, Journalist
Of my friends, I am the only one I have left.
—Terence Ancient Roman Playwright
The tender friendships one gives up, on parting, leave their bite on the heart, but also a curious feeling of a treasure somewhere buried.
—Antoine De Saint-Exupery (1900–44)
There is a law that man should love his neighbor as himself. In a few hundred years it should be as natural to mankind as breathing or the upright gait; but if he does not learn it he must perish.
—Alfred Adler (1870–1937) Austrian Psychologist, Psychiatrist
A quarrel between friends, when made up, adds a new tie to friendship, as … the callosity formed round a broken bone makes it stronger than before.
—Francis de Sales (1567–1622) French Catholic Saint, Clergyman
If you want to be listened to, you should put in time listening.
—Marge Piercy (b.1936) American Poet, Novelist, Social Activist
Who friendship with a knave hath made, is judged a partner in the trade.
—John Gay (1685–1732) English Poet, Dramatist
A true friend is one who overlooks your failures
and tolerates your successes.
—Doug Larson
We need old friends to help us grow old and new friends to help us stay young.
—Letty Cottin Pogrebin (b.1939) American Writer, Journalist
Old friends, we say, are best, when some sudden disillusionment shakes our faith in a new comrade.
—Gelett Burgess
If a man does not make new acquaintances as he advances through life, he will soon find himself left alone. A man, Sir, should keep his friendship in constant repair.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist, Biographer, Poet, Writer, Literary Critic
You can’t shake hands with a clenched fist.
—Indira Gandhi (1917–84) Indian Head of State, Politician
Friendship is always a sweet responsibility, never an opportunity.
—Khalil Gibran (1883–1931) Lebanese-born American Philosopher, Poet, Painter, Theologian, Sculptor
Though friendship is not quick to burn,|It is explosive stuff.
—May Sarton (1912–95) American Children’s Books Writer, Poet, Novelist
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
When our friends are alive, we see the good qualities they lack; dead, we remember only those they possessed.
—Jean Antoine Petit-Senn (1792–1870) Swiss Poet
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)
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 Zealander Short story
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
There should be no inferiors and no superiors for true world friendship.
—Carlos P. Romulo (1899–1985) Philippine Diplomat, Politician, Journalist, Author
Friendship, like love, is destroyed by long absence, though it may be increased by short intermissions.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist, Biographer, Poet, Writer, Literary Critic
There are no rules for friendship. It must be left to itself. We cannot force it any more than love.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist, Literary Critic, Painter, Philosopher
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
One must be fond of people and trust them if one is not to make a mess of life.
—E. M. Forster (1879–1970) English Novelist, Short Story Writer, Essayist
I am quite sure that no friendship yields its true pleasure and nobility of nature without frequent communication, sympathy and service.
—George Edward Woodberry (1855–1930) American Literary Critic, Poet
In prosperity our friends know us; in adversity we know our friends.
—John Churton Collins (1848–1908) English Literary Critic
What I cannot love, I overlook.
—Anais Nin (1903–77)
Love demands infinitely less than friendship.
—George Jean Nathan (1882–1958) American Drama Critic, Editor
Friends can be said to “fall in like” with as profound a thud as romantic partners fall in love.
—Letty Cottin Pogrebin (b.1939) American Writer, Journalist
Friends make pretence of following to the grave but before one is in it, their minds are turned and making the best of their way back to life and living people and things they understand.
—Robert Frost (1874–1963) American Poet
One loyal friend is worth ten thousand relatives.
—Euripides (480BCE–406BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist, Poet
There is a point where you aren’t as much mom and daughter as you are adults and friends. It doesn’t happen for everyone–but it did for Mom and me.
—Jamie Lee Curtis (b.1958) American Children’s Books Writer, Actor, Author
O summer friendship, whose flattering leaves, shadowed us in our prosperity, With the least gust, drop off in the autumn of adversity.
—Philip Massinger (1583–1640) English Dramatist
Probably no man ever had a friend he did not dislike a little; we are all so constituted by nature that no one can possibly entirely approve of us.
—E. W. Howe (1853–1937) American Novelist, Editor
Nobody who is afraid of laughing, and heartily too, at his friend can be said to have a true and thorough love for him.
—Julius Charles Hare (1795–1855) English Theologian, Writer
The worst solitude is to have no real friendships.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher, Political leader, Scientist, Lawyer
Instead of loving your enemies, treat your friends a little better.
—E. W. Howe (1853–1937) American Novelist, Editor