I can only urge you to prefer friendship to all human possessions; for there is nothing so suited to our nature, so well adapted to prosperity or adversity.
—Cicero.
* * * * *
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.
* * * * *
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.
* * * * *