Without friends the world is but a wilderness. There is no man that imparteth his joys to his friends, but he joyeth the more; and no man that imparteth his grieves to his friend, but he grieveth the less.

There is little friendship in the world, and least of all between equals....

The mould of a man's fortune is in his own hands....

The greatest vicissitude of things amongst men is the vicissitude of sects and religions....