Friendship first springs from sympathy of mind,
Which to complete the virtues all combine,
And only found 'mongst men who can espy
The merits of his friend without envy.
Thus all pretending friendship's but a dream,
Whose base is not reciprocal esteem.

--_Allan Ramsay_.

* * * * *

We grow by love. It is said, why live for others? But others are our
nutriment.

--_Channing_.

* * * * *

There are no rules for friendship. It must be left to itself. We cannot
force it any more than love.

--_Hazlitt_.

* * * * *

There are few subjects which have been more written upon, and less
understood, than that of friendship. To follow the dictates of some,
this virtue instead of being the messenger of pain becomes the source of
every inconvenience. Such specialists, by expecting too much from
friendship, dissolve the connection, and by drawing the bands too