Part 17

Thine own friend and thy father's friend, forsake not.

--Solomon.

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While I keep my senses I shall prefer nothing to a pleasant friend.

--Horace.

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What a great blessing is a friend, with a breast so trusty that thou mayest safely bury all thy secrets in it, whose conscience thou mayest fear less than thine own, who can relieve thy cares by his conversation, thy doubts by his counsels, thy sadness by his good humor, and whose very look gives comfort to thee!

--Seneca.

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What can be more delightful than to have one to whom you can speak on all subjects just as to yourself? Where would be the great enjoyment in prosperity if you had not one to rejoice in it equally with yourself? And adversity would indeed be difficult to endure without some one who would bear it even with greater regret than yourself.

--Cicero.

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With one friend I would count myself rich.

--Nusbaum.

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What is bestowed on our friends is beyond the reach of fortune; the riches that thou hast given away are the only riches that thou really possessest.

--Martial.

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Well chosen friendship, the most noble Of virtues, all our joys makes double And into halves divides our trouble.

--Denham.

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We are most of us very lonely in this world; you who have any who love you, cling to them and thank God.

--Thackeray.

When to the sessions of sweet silent thought I summon up remembrance of things past, I sigh the lack of many a thing I sought, And with old woes new wail my dear time's waste: Then can I drown an eye, unused to flow, For precious friends hid in death's dateless night, And weep afresh love's long since canceled woe, And moan the expense of many a vanished sight: Then can I grieve at grievances foregone, And heavily from woe to woe tell o'er The sad account of fore-bemoaned moan, Which I new pay as if not paid before. But if the while I think on thee, dear friend, All losses are restored and sorrows end.

--Shakespeare.

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You shall perceive how you Mistake my fortunes; I am wealthy in my friends.

--Shakespeare.