Famous quotes

Quotes by famous people, credited to who said them. Your own quotes must not match any of these. More are added all the time. 1,158,269 quotes Who coined it · How we decide

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Friendship

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“Dread more the blunderer’s friendship than the calumniator’s enmity.”
Johann Kaspar Lavater (attributed) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Those who speak always and those who never speak are equally unfit for friendship. A good proportion of the talent of listening and speaking is the base of social virtues.”
Johann Kaspar Lavater (attributed) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“A friendship formed in childhood, in youth,—by happy accident at any stage of rising manhood,—becomes the genius that rules the rest of life.”
Amos Bronson Alcott (attributed) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Friendship is a plant that loves the sun, thrives ill under clouds.”
Amos Bronson Alcott (attributed) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“We should remember that it is quite as much a part of friendship to be delicate in its demands as to be ample in its performances.”
John Frederick Boyes (attributed) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“When the first time of love is over, there comes a something better still. Then comes that other love; that faithful friendship which never changes, and which will accompany you with its calm light through the whole of life. It is only needful to place yourself so that it may come, and then it comes of itself. And then everything turns and changes itself to the best.”
Fredrika Bremer (attributed) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Sandra Bernhard: "...I run into [Madonna] all the time, so it's not like there's any irresolvable strangeness. I like to think of the time when we were hanging out as the end of an era. We played out our friendship in the public forum, but it wasn't drunken or irresponsible airheads hanging out - she's a smart lady and I'm obviously my own brand of intellectual." .”
Madonna (entertainer) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Friendship is constant in all other things Save in the office and affairs of love: Therefore all hearts in love use their own tongues; Let every eye negotiate for itself And trust no agent.”
William Shakespeare (1564–1616) said by 1616 at the latest bartlett, Public domain source
“A generous friendship no cold medium knows, Burns with one love, with one resentment glows.”
Alexander Pope (1688–1744) said by 1744 at the latest bartlett, Public domain source
“True friendship's laws are by this rule exprest,-- Welcome the coming, speed the parting guest.”
Alexander Pope (1688–1744) said by 1744 at the latest bartlett, Public domain source
“If a man does not make new acquaintances as he advances through life, he will soon find himself left alone. A man, sir, should keep his friendship in a constant repair.”
Samuel Johnson (1709–1784) said by 1784 at the latest bartlett, Public domain source
“Friendship is Love without his wings.”
Lord Byron (1788–1824) said by 1824 at the latest bartlett, Public domain source
“Friendship is only a reciprocal conciliation of interests, and an exchange of good offices; it is a species of commerce out of which self-love always expects to gain something.”
Francis, Duc De La Rochefoucauld (1613–1680) said by 1680 at the latest bartlett, Public domain source
“My fair one, let us swear an eternal friendship.”
J. De La Fontaine (1621–1695) said by 1695 at the latest bartlett, Public domain source
“A word must become a friend or you will not understand it. Perhaps you do well to be cool and detached when you are seeking information, but I remind you of the wife who complained, 'When I ask John if he loves me, he thinks I am asking for information'.”
Edward Coke (1549–1634) first seen 1592 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Case of Swans, 7 Rep. 15, 17 (1592).
“There [is] a feeling of recognition, as of meeting an old friend, which comes to us all in the face of great artistic experiences. I had the same experience when I first heard an English folksong, when I first saw Michelangelo's Day and Night, when I suddenly came upon Stonehenge or had my first sight of New York City – the intuition that I had been there already.”
Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872–1958) first seen 1950 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Musical Autobiography" (1950); cited from Ursula Vaughan Williams RVW (1964) p. 30.
“Now gold hath sway; we all obey And a ruthless king is he; But he never shall send our ancient friend To be tost on the stormy sea.”
Henry Fothergill Chorley (1808–1872) first seen 1837 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: The brave old Oak (lyrics, 1837).
“Too innocent for coquetry, too fond for idle scorning— Oh friend, I fear the lightest heart makes sometimes heaviest mourning.”
Caroline Elizabeth Sarah Norton (1808–1877) said by 1877 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“There patient show'd us the wise course to steer, A candid censor, and a friend severe; There taught us how to live; and (oh! too high The price for knowledge) taught us how to die.”
Thomas Tickell (1685–1740) first seen 1721 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: On the Death of Mr. Addison (1721), line 81. Compare: "He who should teach men to die, would at the same time teach them to live", Michel de Montaigne, Essay, book i. chap. ix.; "I have taught you, my dear flock, for ab…
“though every friend be fled, Lo! Envy waits, that lover of the dead.”
Thomas Tickell (1685–1740) said by 1740 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Commodore Marlin: My friend, I ask you a plain civil question; will you give me a plain, civil answer?”
Thomas Chandler Haliburton (1796–1865) said by 1865 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Spanking Jack was so comely, so pleasant, so jolly, Though winds blew great guns, still he ’d whistle and sing; Jack loved his friend, and was true to his Molly, And if honour gives greatness, was great as a king.”
Charles Dibdin (1745–1814) said by 1814 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: The Sailor’s Consolation. A song with this title, beginning, "One night came on a hurricane", was written by William Pitt, of Malta, who died in 1840.
“My friend, Hassan II,... is a sovereign of rare intellectual qualities. He is a descendant of the Prophet and holds a doctorate of Law from the University of Bordeaux and thus, perfectly combines two cultures, the European and the Koranic. It is superflous to add that I pray for him and his loyal people.”
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi (1919–1980) said by 1980 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“As for King Hussein of Jordan, I cannot praise him enough. He is not only a friend, but a brother. His qualities as a man and his goodness of heart are enhanced by great courage and a true love of his country.”
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi (1919–1980) said by 1980 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I knew there was never anyone to blame when people get into drugs. They're always responsible for their own behavior, and it's not the dealer, and it's not the friend, it's not the childhood. (Scar Tissue, 2004).”
Anthony Kiedis (born 1962) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The Angel of Death came to David's room, He said, "Friend, it's time to go.”
Aaron Weiss wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Thou water turn'st to wine, fair friend of life; Thy foe, to cross the sweet arts of Thy reign, Distils from thence the tears of wrath and strife, And so turns wine to water back again.”
Richard Crashaw (1612–1649) said by 1649 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Steps to the Temple, To Our Lord upon the Water Made Wine; reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 516.
“Life that dares send A challenge to his end, And when it comes, say, Welcome, friend!”
Richard Crashaw (1612–1649) said by 1649 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Also quoted by: Sir John Denham
“My God, my Father, and my Friend, Do not forsake me at my end.”
Wentworth Dillon, 4th Earl of Roscommon (1637–1685) said by 1685 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Also quoted by: Earl Of Roscommon
“Then, seek a poet who your way does bend, And choose an author as you choose a friend; United by this sympathetic bond, You grow familiar, intimate and fond; Your thoughts, your words, your styles, your souls agree, No longer his interpreter, but he.”
Wentworth Dillon, 4th Earl of Roscommon (1637–1685) said by 1685 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“O Music! sphere-descended maid, Friend of Pleasure, Wisdom's aid!”
William Collins (1721–1759) said by 1759 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“But thou, lorn stream, whose sullen tide No sedge-crown'd sister now attend, Now waft me from the green hill's side Whose cold turf hides the buried friend!”
William Collins (1721–1759) said by 1759 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Hitler decided that Mussolini must be freed from the Italian Partisans because Benito was his friend and had acted in good faith.”
Otto Skorzeny (1908–1975) said by 1975 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: To Jack Bell of the Chicago Daily News, as quoted in Scoop : An Historical Adventure (2006) by James H. Walters, p. 32.
“Watch your step. Keep your wits about you; you will need them. This city I am bringing you to is vast and intricate, and you have not been here before. You may imagine, from other stories you've read, that you know it well, but those stories flattered you, welcoming you as a friend, treating you as if you belonged. The truth is that you are an alien from another time and place altogether.”
Michel Faber (born 1960) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Why should we fear? and what? The laws? They all are arm'd in Virtue's cause; And aiming at the self-same end, Satire is always Virtue's friend.”
Charles Churchill (satirist) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“...my friend Dr. Arno Gruen, author of The Insanity of Normality, has said an interesting thing. He said that culture, in recent decades, has taken on a life of its own, without reference to the people it is supposed to protect.”
George W. S. Trow (1943–2006) said by 2006 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The memory of you shall not perish with your untimely sepulture. You are, dear friend, not so much out of the game as playing on another field.”
Richard Matheson (1926–2013) said by 2013 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Thou hast prevaricated with thy friend, By underhand contrivances undone me: And while my open nature trusted in thee, Thou hast slept in between me and my hopes, And ravish'd from me all my soul held dear. Thou hast betray'd me.”
Nicholas Rowe (1674–1718) first seen 1715 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Lady Jane Grey (1715), Act II, scene 1, line 235.
“Amos Regev, the editor-[in-chief] of Israel HaYom, is a personal friend and my conversations with him are not within the framework of my job.”
Benjamin Netanyahu (born 1949) first seen 2015 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Response to an FOI request by Haaretz on ties between Netanyahu and the management of Israel's largest newspaper (11 June 2015)
“He was a man of immense intellectual capabilities and most of us were marvelling at his doctorate thesis which focused on the mathematical solutions using digit zero. As a politician he was a man who choose his words carefully.As a personal and trusted friend whom I had assigned key responsibilities, the loss of Saitoti has been a painful experience to me,”
Mwai Kibaki (1931–2022) first seen 2012 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speaking at the George Saitoti burial (16 June 2012) at All Africa
“My friend L___ is in town, and intends trying his fortune among us- as teacher of murder and neck-breaking, alias, fencing and riding.”
Ignatius Sancho (1729–1780) said by 1780 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“..."the only intrinsic nett worth, in my possession, is Mrs. Sancho- who I can compare to nothing so properly as to a diamond in the dirt- but, my friend, that is Fortune's fault, not mine- for, had I power, I would case her in gold.”
Ignatius Sancho (1729–1780) first seen 1775 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: (from vol 1, letter 21: probably summer 1775, to Mr R___ ).
“Self-love, my friend, bewitches parents to give too much indulgence to infantine foibles;- the constant cry is, "Poor little soul, it knows no better!" If it swears, that's a sign of wit and spirit; if it fibs, it's so cunning and comical; if it steals, 'tis only a paw trick- and the mother exultingly cries, "My Jacky is so sharp, we can keep nothing from him!”
Ignatius Sancho (1729–1780) first seen 1775 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: (from vol 1, letter 28: 4 Oct 1775, to Miss L___ ).
“... confess now- could you lie with the wife of your friend? could you debauch his sister? could you defraud a poor creditor? could you by gambling rejoice in the outwitting a novice of all his possessions?- No! why then thou art a silly fellow, incumbered with three abominable inmates; to wit- Conscience, Honesty, and Good-nature”
Ignatius Sancho (1729–1780) first seen 1779 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: (from vol 2, letter 43: 17 Oct 1779, to Mr M___ ).
“Tis plain to me As A B C, My dear friend, Mr. Neff!" "Oh, yes! but then," Says Mr. N , "You know I'm D E F!”
Charles Follen Adams (1842–1918) first seen 1876 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Yawcob Strauss", in Yawcob Strauss, and Other Poems (1876), p. 69.
“My dear Duke, I know nothing of the joys of homo-sexuality. You must speak to my friend Oscar about that. And yet, if Shakespeare had asked me, I would have had to submit.”
Frank Harris (1856–1931) said by 1931 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Hugh Kingsmill Frank Harris (1932) pp. 100-101.
“Crops failed; wealth took a flight; house, treasure, land, Slipped from my hold—thus plenty comes and goes. One friend I had, but he too loosed his hand (Or was it I?) the year I met with Rose.”
Edmund Clarence Stedman (1833–1908) said by 1908 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Can’t I another’s face commend, And to her virtues be a friend, But instantly your forehead lours, As if her merit lessen’d yours?”
Edward Moore (1712–1757) said by 1757 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“In social situations I still feel scared. My best friend and husband give me the freedom to be myself.”
Susannah Constantine (born 1962) first seen 2007 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As quoted in "Retail therapists" by Fiona Neill in The Times (14 July 2007)
“What does he plant who plants a tree? He plants the friend of sun and sky; He plants the flag of breezes free; The shaft of beauty, towering high; He plants a home to heaven anigh For song and mother-croon of bird In hushed and happy twilight heard— The treble of heaven's harmony— These things he plants who plants a tree.”
Henry Cuyler Bunner (1855–1896) said by 1896 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: The Heart of the Tree. An Arbor-Day Song", stanza 1, in The Poems of H. C. Bunner, new edition (New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1899), p. 249.