Food and wine and friendship matter more than almost anything I can think of. Together they involve skill and craft and patience, and understanding of difference, and appreciation, and the desire to bring happiness to others.

Friends have a way of speaking without words.

A hug is the shortest distance between two friends.

Friends are the brothers and sisters we choose to share our life with.

A friend is someone who reaches for your hand but touches your heart.

I suppose the fact is that no friendship can stand the breakfast test… Civilisation has done away with curl-papers, yet at that hour the soul of the Hausfrau is as tightly screwed up as was ever her grandmother's hair, and though my body comes down mechanically, having been trained that way by punctual parents, my soul never thinks of beginning to wake up for other people till lunch-time, and never does so completely till it has been taken out of doors and aired in the sunshine. Who can begin the conventional amiability the first thing in the morning? It is the hour of savage instincts and natural tendencies; it is the triumph of the Disagreeable and the Cross. I am convinced that the Muses and the Graces never thought of having breakfast anywhere but in bed.

Again and again, I learn how much friendship enriches my life, bringing warmth, assurance, humour, inspiration, a sense of security. It depends on honesty, trust, loyalty. It’s about giving. It’s for sharing the good times, but also the tough times, hurt, grief, sadness.

Women have a great capacity for friendship. Whatever our background, wherever we come from, we share powerful bonds – the hopes and aspirations we have for future generations for our children and grandchildren.

Select some sound hearts. Be careful not to bruise them with unfeeling words. Take of milk of human kindness one heartful. Add to this plenty of tact. Warm the mixture with sympathy. Do not let it get too hot at first, lest it only ferment mischief. Knead with plenty of oil of unselfishness to make all smooth. Beware of jars (lovely wording). The mixture should be kept in a warm corner of the heart.
Years only serve to improve the flavour of friends thus preserved

Life is mostly froth and bubble,
Two things stand like stone,
KINDNESS in another’s trouble,
COURAGE in your own.