--_The Hava-mal_.

* * * * *

There is nothing that is meritorious but virtue and friendship, and
indeed, friendship itself is but a part of virtue.

--_Pope_.

* * * * *

The mind never unbends itself so agreeably as in the conversation of a
well-chosen friend. There is indeed no blessing of life that is any way
comparable to the enjoyment of a discreet and virtuous friend. It eases
and unloads the mind, clears and improves the understanding, engenders
thoughts and knowledge, animates virtue and good resolutions, soothes
and allays the passions, and finds employment for most of the vacant
hours of life.

--_Addison_.

* * * * *

The best way to represent to life the manifold use of friendship is to
cast and see how many things there are which a man cannot do himself;
and then it will appear that it was a sparing speech of the ancients to
say "that a friend is another himself."

--_Bacon_.