Friendship

Friendship with oneself is all-important, because

without it one cannot be friends with anyone else

in the world.

The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand

nor the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship;

it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one

when he discovers that someone else believes in

him and is willing to trust him with his friendship.

Good friendships are fragile things and require as

much care as any other fragile and precious thing.

The reward of friendship is itself. The man who

hopes for anything else does not  understand

what true friendship is.

The firmest friendships have been formed in

mutual adversity, as iron is most strongly

united by the fiercest flame.

To be capable of steady friendship or lasting love,

are the two greatest proofs, not only of goodness

of heart, but of strength of mind.

True happiness is of a retired nature, and an

enemy to pomp and noise; it arises, in the first

place, from the enjoyment of one’s self, and

in the next from the friendship and conversation

of a few select companions.

When someone allows you to bear his burdens,

you have found deep friendship.

The main things which seem to me important on

their own account, and not merely as means to

other things, are knowledge, Art, Instinctive

Happiness, and relations of Friendship or Affection.