Part 22

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For to have the same predilections and the same aversions, that and that alone is the surest bond of friendship.

--Sallust.

False friends, like insects in a summer's day, Bask in the sunshine, but avoid the shower; Uncertain visitants, they flee away E'en when misfortune's cloud begins to lower. Into life's bitter cup true friendship drops Balsamic sweets to overpower the gall; True friends, like ivy and the wall it props, Both stand together, or together fall.

--Anonymous.

He who cannot feel friendship is alike incapable of love. Let a woman beware of the man who owns that he loves no one but herself.

--Talleyrand.

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How were friendship possible? In mutual devotedness to the Good and True: otherwise impossible; except as armed neutrality or hollow commercial league. A man, be the heavens ever praised, is sufficient for himself; yet were ten men, united in love, capable of being and doing what ten thousand singly would fail. Infinite is the help man can yield to man!

--Carlyle.

He that hath gained a friend, hath given hostages to fortune.

--Shakespeare.

How often in thy journeyings hast thou made thee instant friends, Found, to be loved a little while, and lost, to meet no more; Friends of happy reminiscences, although so transient in their converse, Liberal, cheerful, and sincere, a crowd of kindly traits.

--Tupper.

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Heaven forming each on other to depend, A master, or a servant, or a friend, Bids each on other for assistance call, Till one man's weakness grows the strength of all.

--Pope.

In friendship we find nothing false or insincere; everything is straightforward, and springs from the heart.

--Cicero.

Keep well thine tongue and keep thy friend.

--Chaucer.

Thy friend will come to thee unsought, With nothing can his love be bought, His soul thine own will know at sight, With him thy heart can speak outright. Greet him nobly, love him well, Show him where your best thoughts dwell, Trust him greatly and for aye; A true friend comes but once your way.

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If you would keep your friend, approach him with a telescope, never with the microscope.

--Anon.

It is one of the severest tests of friendship to tell your friend of his faults. If you are angry with a man, or hate him, it is not hard to go to him and stab him with words; but so to love a man that you cannot hear to see the stain of sin upon him, and to speak painful truth through loving words--that is friendship. But few have such friends. Our enemies usually teach us what we are, at the point of the sword.

--Beecher.

My friend is not perfect--no more I--and so we suit each other admirably.