These lines about friends come from eight traditions. Each one is copied word for word from its book. They talk about how to choose a friend and how to be one. Each line links to the full passage.
17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. 10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
Joshua ben Prahiah says: Take unto thyself a teacher, and acquire a friend, and judge every person in favorable light.
What is in thine heart concerning thy friend is in his heart concerning thee
34 The good deed and the evil deed are not alike. Repel the evil deed with one which is better, then lo! he, between whom and thee there was enmity (will become) as though he was a bosom friend.
Abû Mûsâ reported, The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allâh be on him, said: "Believers are in relation to one another as (parts of) a structure, one part of which strengthens the other." And he inserted the fingers of one hand amid those of the other (so as to conjoin his two hands).
4 No friend is he who to his friend and comrade who comes imploring food, will offer nothing.
Beest thou poor or beest thou rich, thou shouldst honour thy friends. Until some service is asked, the sincerity or otherwise of friends cannot be known.
78. Do not have evil-doers for friends, do not have low people for friends: have virtuous people for friends, have for friends the best of men.
328. If a man find a prudent companion who walks with him, is wise, and lives soberly, he may walk with him, overcoming all dangers, happy, but considerate.
Is it not delightful to have friends coming from distant quarters?
Tsze-kung asked about friendship. The Master said, "Faithfully admonish your friend, and skillfully lead him on. If you find him impracticable, stop. Do not disgrace yourself." The philosopher Tsang said, "The superior man on grounds of culture meets with his friends, and by friendship helps his virtue."
They alone are my friends, who travel along with me; and in that place, where the accounts are called for, they appear standing with me.
For where else is friendship but where faith and honour are, where men give and take what is good, and nothing else?
Every quote on this page is checked word for word against the stored text of its book.