Friendship is a theme that transcends time and space, beautifully articulated in a multitude of literary works throughout history. In this piece with literature quotes about friendship, we embark on an exploration of the most memorable and moving quotes on friendship that literature has gifted us. We delve into novels, plays, poems, and essays, spanning different periods and cultures, unearthing sentiments that celebrate the profound bond of friendship.
Friends, after all, are the chosen family we surround ourselves with, and the importance of this bond cannot be overstated. From the poignant musings of great minds like Mark Twain and Jane Austen to the compelling narratives of contemporary authors, these quotes are testament to the immeasurable value and nuanced dynamics of friendships. The beauty of these words will undoubtedly tug at your heartstrings, make you reflect on your own friendships, and perhaps inspire you to reconnect with a friend you’ve lost touch with. So, let’s delve into these literary gems about friendship, appreciating the power and tenderness they exude.
Table of Contents
- The Meaning of Friendship
- Why Was Friendship Revered in Literature?
- 10 Famous Best Friends Quotes Taken from Books
- 10 Quotes about Friendship from Classic Literature
- 10 Literary Quotes about Friendship from Sci-fi and Fantasy Books
- 10 Quotes about Friendship from Children’s Literature
- Poems and Poetic Literary Quotes About Friendship
- 10 Original Friendship Card Quotes for a Best Friend
- 10 Original Friendship Quotes for an Autograph Book
The Meaning of Friendship
Friendship, in its most basic form, is a relationship based on mutual affection, understanding, trust, and respect. It transcends boundaries of culture, geography, and age. A friend is someone who accepts you as you are, someone who stands by you in times of joy and sorrow, someone who listens when you need to talk, and talks when you need to listen. A friend is a harbor of safety in the stormy sea of life, a mirror that reflects your true self, and a constant reminder of the inherent goodness in the world.
However, the meaning of friendship is not fixed. It varies from person to person, from culture to culture, and from one period of life to another. Some friendships are as deep and lasting as familial ties, while others are temporary, tied to a specific time or place. Despite these differences, all forms of friendship enrich our lives, offering companionship, emotional support, and personal growth.
Why Was Friendship Revered in Literature?
The world of literature, from the earliest epics to the most contemporary narratives, is teeming with stories of friendship. Friendship is revered in literature because it reflects one of the deepest human needs: the need for connection and belonging. Literature, in its quest to illuminate the human experience, frequently delves into the complex and multifaceted world of friendships, exploring how they form, evolve, and sometimes break.
Literary friendships, whether they be between two equals, such as the bond between Frodo and Sam in J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings,” or between unequal partners, such as the friendship between Don Quixote and Sancho Panza in Miguel de Cervantes’ “Don Quixote,” provide us with insights into the human condition, our longing for connection, and our capacity for loyalty and self-sacrifice. By honoring friendship, literature reaffirms the fundamental value and transformative power of these relationships in our lives.
10 Famous Best Friends Quotes Taken from Books
Dive into the heartwarming world of companionship as we explore 10 famous book quotes about best friends, immortalizing the profound bonds of friendship penned down by literary maestros.
It is not so much our friends’ help that helps us as the confident knowledge that they will help us. Epicurus, Vatican Sayings
Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, ‘What! You too? I thought I was the only one. C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves
There is nothing I would not do for those who are really my friends. I have no notion of loving people by halves, it is not my nature. Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey
Why did you do all this for me?’ he asked. ‘I don’t deserve it. I’ve never done anything for you.’ ‘You have been my friend,’ replied Charlotte. ‘That in itself is a tremendous thing. E.B. White, Charlotte’s Web
I would rather walk with a friend in the dark, than alone in the light. Helen Keller, The Story of My Life
No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another. Charles Dickens, Doctor Marigold
To die will be an awfully big adventure. J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan (Peter says this to his best friend Tinker Bell.)
Friendship… is born at the moment when one man says to another “What! You too? I thought that no one but myself…” C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves
Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born. Anaïs Nin, The Diary of Anaïs Nin
The real test of friendship is can you literally do nothing with the other person? Can you enjoy those moments of life that are utterly simple? Eugene Kennedy, On Becoming a Counselor
10 Quotes about Friendship from Classic Literature
Discover the timeless wisdom on the lasting friendship and camaraderie as we traverse through remarkable lines penned by literary legends in their immortal works.
A faithful friend is a strong defense; And he that hath found him hath found a treasure. Louisa May Alcott, Little Women
True friends stab you in the front. Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Life is nothing without friendship. Marcus Tullius Cicero, On Friendship
Laughter is not at all a bad beginning for a friendship, and it is far the best ending for one. Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray
The only way to have a friend is to be one. Ralph Waldo Emerson, Essays: First Series
I don’t know what I would do without Whit. Even if I’m mad at him, I’m still glad he’s there. What could be better than that? Nancy Farmer, The House of the Scorpion
What a blessing it is to love books. Everybody must love something, and I know of no objects of love that give such substantial and unfailing returns as books and a garden. Elizabeth von Arnim, Elizabeth and her German Garden
No man can be called friendless who has God and the companionship of good books. Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Aurora Leigh
My Best Friend is a person who will give me a book I have not read. Abraham Lincoln, Collected Works
There is nothing better than a friend, unless it is a friend with chocolate. Linda Grayson, The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens (Paraphrase)
Related: 80+ Funny Friendship Quotes for Crazy Best Friend Moments
10 Literary Quotes about Friendship from Sci-fi and Fantasy Books
Embark on a journey through the imaginative landscapes of science fiction and fantasy literature, as we unveil ten evocative friendship quotes, that beautifully encapsulate the essence of friendship.
We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided. J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
True friends are always together in spirit. L. M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables
I would rather share one lifetime with you than face all the ages of this world alone. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings
A hunted man sometimes wearies of distrust and longs for friendship. J.R.R. Tolkien,The Lord of the Rings
I have claimed that Escape is one of the main functions of fairy-stories, and since I do not disapprove of them, it is plain that I do not accept the tone of scorn or pity with which ‘Escape’ is now so often used. Why should a man be scorned if, finding himself in prison, he tries to get out and go home? Or if he cannot do so, he thinks and talks about other topics than jailers and prison-walls? J.R.R. Tolkien, On Fairy-Stories
My friends… you bow to no one. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
When you can’t look on the bright side, I will sit with you in the dark. Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland
One day I will find the right words, and they will be simple. Jack Kerouac, The Dharma Bums
Friends are God’s way of apologizing for your family. Wayne W. Dyer, Your Erroneous Zones
Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art… It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things which give value to survival. C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves
10 Quotes about Friendship from Children’s Literature
Let’s venture into the enchanting world of children’s literature, rich with timeless wisdom and heartfelt expressions about friendship.
If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day so I never have to live without you. Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne
What you see and what you hear depends a great deal on where you are standing. It also depends on what sort of person you are. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
There are some things you can’t share without ending up liking each other, and knocking out a twelve-foot mountain troll is one of them. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
You have been my friend. That in itself is a tremendous thing. Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
True friends are always together in spirit. Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
It is the time you have spent on your rose that makes your rose so important. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Real isn’t how you are made. It’s a thing that happens to you when a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but really loves you, then you become Real. The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams
When you have a Garden, you have a future, and when you have a future, you are alive. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
There is nothing, absolutely nothing, half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats. The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
Whatever comes, she said, cannot alter one thing. If I am a princess in rags and tatters, I can be a princess inside. A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Poems and Poetic Literary Quotes About Friendship
The following poem extracts or other quotes with a poetic touch will make reference to the bond of friendship in a truly special way.
When you part from your friend, you grieve not; For that which you love most in him may be clearer in his absence, as the mountain to the climber is clearer from the plain. Khalil Gibran
Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born. Anaïs Nin
There are no faster or firmer friendships than those formed between people who love the same books. Irving Stone
Silence make the real conversations between friends. Not the saying, but the never needing to say that counts. Margaret Lee Runbeck
There are some things you can’t share without ending up liking each other, and knocking out a twelve-foot mountain troll is one of them. J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
Can miles truly separate you from friends… If you want to be with someone you love, aren’t you already there? Richard Bach
Don’t walk in front of me… I may not follow.
Don’t walk behind me… I may not lead.
Walk beside me… just be my friend.
Albert Camus
Unreal friendship may turn to real
But real friendship, once ended, cannot be mended.
T.S. Eliot, Murder in the Cathedral
WE two boys together clinging,
One the other never leaving,
Up and down the roads going, North and South excursions making,
Power enjoying, elbows stretching, fingers clutching,
Arm’d and fearless, eating, drinking, sleeping, loving.
No law less than ourselves owning, sailing, soldiering, thieving,
threatening,
Misers, menials, priests alarming, air breathing, water drinking, on
the turf or the sea-beach dancing,
Cities wrenching, ease scorning, statutes mocking, feebleness
chasing,
Fulfilling our foray.
Walt Whitman
To see her is a picture—
To hear her is a tune—
To know her an Intemperance
As innocent as June—
To know her not—Affliction—
To own her for a Friend
A warmth as near as if the Sun
Were shining in your Hand.
Emily Dickinson
The friends who met here and embraced are gone,
Each to his own mistake;
W.H. Auden
May I a small house and large garden have;
And a few friends,
And many books, both true.
Abraham Cowley
Related: 80 True Friendship Quotes About Always Counting on Them
10 Original Friendship Card Quotes for a Best Friend
Friendship card quotes can help convey your heartfelt feelings to your dear friends. They can be used in greeting cards, notes, messages or even social media posts to express your appreciation and love for your friends in a unique and memorable way.
1. “You’re the sunrise to my darkest days, the anchor in my ocean of chaos. Thank you for being a friend.”
2. “Friendship isn’t a big thing – it’s a million little things, and you, my friend, are my favorite little thing.”
3. “Just like a treasured book, our friendship is a story that never ends. Thank you for being a part of my life’s best chapters.”
4. “We may not share the same blood, but we certainly share the same heart. Here’s to friendship that feels like family!”
5. “Our friendship is like a cup of tea – a special blend of you and me.”
6. “In the canvas of life, a friend is the brush that paints the vibrant colors of joy and laughter. Thank you for adding color to my world.”
7. “You’re the lighthouse in my storms, the sunshine in my rain. You’re more than a friend, you’re my beacon of hope.”
8. “Between the laughter, long talks, and shared dreams, I found a friend in you.”
9. “In the cookie of life, friends like you are the chocolate chips that make everything better.”
10. “Every day spent with you feels like a treasure hunt, and friendship is the treasure we’ve found. Thank you for the priceless moments.”
10 Original Friendship Quotes for an Autograph Book
Original friendship quotes can add a personal touch to an autograph book, providing a unique way for individuals to express their sentiments and capture shared experiences. Moreover, they serve as heartfelt reminders of the bond shared between friends, creating long-lasting memories each time the book is revisited.
1. “In the symphony of life, your friendship is the sweetest melody.”
2. “Through every season of life, your friendship remains the constant, warm summer sun.”
3. “A friend is someone who can see the truth and pain in you, even when you’re fooling everyone else.”
4. “Friends are the patchwork quilt of memories and moments that warm the soul.”
5. “You’re the kind of friend who makes ordinary moments extraordinary.”
6. “A journey is best measured in friends, not miles. And our journey has been unforgettable.”
7. “In the garden of life, a friend is the most beautiful flower.”
8. “In life’s painting, friends are the vibrant colors that bring the canvas to life.”
9. “To the world, you may be one person, but to me, you are the world.”
10. “Here’s to friends who become family, and a friendship that will forever color our hearts.”
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