A Little Book of Friendship

by Ruskin Bond

Fools try to make people like them; wise men strive to like others.

‘Be slow in choosing a friend, slower in changing.’ —Benjamin Franklin

‘Those friends thou hast, and their adoption tried, Grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel; But do not dull thy palm with entertainment Of each new-hatch’d, unfledged comrade.’ —William Shakespeare

The nice thing about old photographs is that we can turn to them from time to time, relive the past, revive old friendships, admire ourselves when we were younger, shed a sentimental tear or two, and come back to the present with a feeling that life isn’t such a waste of time, after all… Friends and lovers have come and gone, and life has been richer because of them. There’s something to be said for photography: it puts life into perspective!

In a sense, every man and woman is an island. But life can be very lonely on our individual islands. We need to reach out, touch each other, feel the warmth of another personality, enjoy another’s company, recognize a kindred spirit— find a friend! And then, you are no longer an island.