It is by loving, and not by being loved, that one can come nearest to the soul of another. Where two love, it is the loving of each other, and not the being loved by each other, that originates, perfects, and assures their blessedness.
—MacDonald.
It is useless to demand affection: the thing for us to do is to bestow affection, to serve, to be a friend to others, and, lo! by and by friends come to us.
—Merriam.
O friendship, equal-poised control,
O heart, with kindest motion warm,