—Wallace.
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Much certainly of the happiness and purity of our lives depends on our making a wise choice of our companions and friends. Many people seem to trust in this matter to the chapter of accidents. It is well and right, indeed, to be courteous and considerate to every one with whom one is thrown in contact, but to choose them as real friends is another matter…. If our friends are badly chosen they will inevitably drag us down; if well they will raise us up.
—Avebury.
Not only does friendship introduce daylight in the understanding out of darkness and confusion of thoughts; it maketh a fair day in the affections from storm and tempests; in consultation with a friend a man tosseth his thoughts more easily; he marshalleth them more orderly; he seeth how they look when they are turned into words; finally, he waxeth wiser than himself; and that more by an hour's discourse than by a day's meditation.
—Bacon.
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Nothing is more common than the name of friend; nothing is more rare than friendship.
—Phaedrus.
O, friendship! thou fond soother of the human breast, to thee we fly in every calamity.