If any little love of mine May make a life the sweeter, If any little care of mine May make a friend's the fleeter, If any life of mine may ease The burden of another, God give me love and care and strength To help my toiling brother.
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If you have a friend worth loving, Love him. Yes, and let him know That you love him, ere life's evening Tinge his brow with sunset glow; Why should good words ne'er be said Of a friend till he is dead?
--Unknown.
Old books, old wine, old Nankin blue, All things, in short, to which belong The charm, the grace that Time makes strong-- All these I prize, but (entre nous) Old friends are best!
--Austin Dobson.
* * * * *
I never crossed your threshold with a grief But that I went without it, never came Heart hungry but you fed me, And gave the sorrow solace and relief.
I never left you but I took away The love that drew me to your side again, Through the wide door that never could remain Quite closed between us for a little day.
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If you would be loved as a companion, avoid unnecessary criticism.
--Sir Arthur Helps.
* * * * *
If you have friends in adversity, stand by them.
--Dickens.
* * * * *
It is every man's duty to make himself profitable to mankind.
--Seneca.
* * * * *
If a man should importune me to give a reason why I loved him, I find it could no otherwise be expressed than by making answer: because it was he, because it was I.
--Montaigne.
* * * * *
Indifferent people can only wound you in heterogeneous parts, maim you in your arm or leg: but the friend can make no pass but at the heart itself.
--Steele.
* * * * *
Tell me, gentle traveler, who hast wandered through the world, and seen the sweetest roses blow, and brightest gliding rivers, of all thine eyes have seen, which is the fairest land? "Child, shall I tell thee where nature is more blest and fair? It is where those we love abide. Though that space be small, ample is it above kingdoms; though it be a desert, through it runs the river of Paradise, and there are the enchanted bowers."
--Unknown.
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For Auld Lang Syne: a Book of Friendship · The Wunder Library — complete classics, free to read, with narration.