There are no rules for friendship. It must be left to itself. We cannot force it any more than love.

Friendship with ones self is all important, because without it one cannot be friends with anyone else in the world.

A true friend is the greatest of all blessings, and that which we take the least care of all to acquire.

Friendship, of itself a holy tie, is made more sacred by adversity.

An excellent man he has no enemies and none of his friends like him.

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.

Silences make the real conversations between friends. Not the saying but the never needing to say is what counts.

Never have a companion that casts you in the shade.

Real friendship, like real poetry, is extremely rare - and precious as a pearl.

Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light.