I've been thinking a lot lately about friends and friendship. As I mentioned in an earlier post, this past summer was the 40th reunion of my high school graduation class. Due to the timing of some things going on in life, I was not able to attend. I've been able to "reconnect" with some of my classmates on Facebook and writing on each other's wall. (That's FB lingo for saying things to each other that many others can see.) And it's been great to see their pictures and hear about their lives — even IM'ing several of them. (Pretty good for a bunch "geezers," huh?! 
Actually the whole Facebook thing has also got me thinking about friendship. Earlier this month, my number of friends on FB passed the 1,000 mark! I tell people that I am probably the world's worst FB friend — I simply don't have time to "keep up" with that many people! Many/most of my FB friends are actually former students, going all the way back to my first year of teaching in the 1973-74 school year. Some, I think may just be people I have passed on the sidewalk on campus, but I recognized them from their picture, so I accepted their friend request.
In my MLF101 French classes we have a lesson on friendship that describes friendship in France and asks the students to compare and contrast that with friendship where they are from. Having students from all over the USA and all over the world in my classes leads to interesting insights and discussions. The textbook maintains the contention of the French that American friendships are shallow and superficial. At first my students react to that and strenuously disagree. But as the discussion goes on, they start to see what the French are talking about and usually agree that maybe their stereotype of us is justified.
Here are some sayings I've accumulated over the years about friends and friendship.
Friendship
Friends are those rare people who ask how we are and then wait to hear the answer.
If you can buy a person's friendship, it is not worth it.
True friends have hearts that beat as one.
You can bank on any friendship where interest is paid.
Don't worry about knowing people; just make yourself worth knowing.
No one has so big a house that he does not need a good neighbor.
If you were another person, would you like to be a friend of yours?
Friends are those who speak to you after others don't.
The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail and not his tongue.
Pick your friends, but not to pieces.
A friend is one who puts his finger on a fault without rubbing it in.
The way to have friends is to be willing to lose some arguments.
If a friend makes a mistake, don't rub it in ... rub it out.
A friend is someone who adds up all your traits but brings up only the good ones.
A friend is one who helps you bridge the gaps between loneliness and fellowship, frustration and confidence, despair and hope, setbacks and success.
Make friends before you need them.
A good friend is one who neither looks down on you nor keeps up with you.
Friendship is a responsibility, not an opportunity.
Friendship is the cement that holds the world together.
You cannot see eye to eye with the person you look down upon.
People are judged by the company they keep and the company they keep away from.
Deal with others' faults as gently as if they were your own.
Be friendly with the folks you know — if it weren't for them you would be a total stranger.
If you cannot think of any nice things to say about your friends, then you have the wrong friends.
To be without a friend is a serious form of poverty.
The best mirror is an old friend.
The best possession one may have is a true friend.
Friendship is the art of overlooking the shortcomings of others.
Make friendship a habit and you will always have friends.
The more arguments you win, the fewer friends you will have.
A friend is someone who knows all our faults but still loves us.
You will never have a friend if you must have one without faults.
Real friends are those who, when you feel you've made a fool of yourself, don't feel you've done a permanent job.
The real proof of friendship is to have the same ailment your friend is describing and not mention it.
Doing nothing for your friends results in having no friends to do for.
Friends knock before they enter, not after they leave.
Being square creates a circle of friends.
It is just as difficult to get along in this world without a friend as it is to get along without food to eat.
A friend is a person who can step on your toes without messing your shine.
Anyone can give advice, but a real friend will lend a helping hand.
The quickest way to wipe out a friend is to sponge off him.
You can make more friends by being interested in them than trying to have them be interested in you.
A real friend is a person who, when you've made a fool of yourself, lets you forget it.
A friend is a person who listens attentively while you say nothing.
You can buy friendship with friendship, but never with dollars.
The most miserable person on earth is the one who has money and no friends.
A friend is someone who thinks you're a good egg even though you're slightly cracked.
True friends are like diamonds, precious but rare; false friends are like autumn leaves, found everywhere.
Are there any of those sayings that you strongly agree or disagree with? Do you have any secrets on friendship to share? I look forward to your comments on friends and friendship.
quotation...
"A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." Proverbs 18:24 ESV
=^..^= =^..^=
Rob
Your secrets are safe with me and all my Facebook friends.
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