—Carlyle.
* * * * *
Believing hear, what you deserve to hear:
Your birthday, as my own, to me is dear.
Blest and distinguished days! which we should prize
The first, the kindest, bounty of the skies.
But yours gives most; for mine did only lend
Me to the world, yours gave to me a friend.
—Martial.
* * * * *
Choose for your friend him that is wise and good, and secret and just, ingenious and honest, and in those things which have a latitude, use your own liberty.
—Taylor.
* * * * *
Friendship is made up of esteem and pleasure; pity is composed of sorrow and contempt: the mind may for some time fluctuate between them, but it can never entertain both at once.
—Goldsmith.