I recieved this in an email.....

The Art of Friendship.....

The first step in the art of friendship is to be a friend; then making friends takes care of itself. 

To be a friend, one should start by being a friend to himself, by being true to his highest and best and by aligning himself with the enduring values of human life that make for growth and progress.

To be a friend, one should strive to be *like the shadow of a great rock in a weary land*, to be a source of refuge and strength to those who walk in darkness.

To be a friend, one should believe in the inherent goodness of men and in their potential greatness; he should treat one in a big spirit, expectant of a noble response.

To be a friend, one should strive to lift people up, not cast them down; to encourage, not discourage; to set an example that will be an inspiration to others.

To be a friend, one should be sensitively responsive to the dreams and aims of others and should show sincere appreciation for the contributions others make to the enrichment of his life.

To be a friend, one should practice the companionship of silence and the magic of words that his speech may build and not destroy, help and not hinder.

To be a friend, one should close his eyes to the faults of others and open them to his own.

To be a friend, one should not attempt reform, but should strive only to make others happy if he can.

To be a friend, one should be himself, he should be done with hypocrisy, artificiality and pretense, he should meet and mingle with people in quiet simplicity and humility.

To be a friend, one shouldbe tolerant, he should have an understanding heart and a forgiving nature, knowing all men stumble now and then, and that he who never made a mistake never accomplished anything.

To be a friend, one should join hands with all people who are working for great principles, great purposes and great causes; he should put hisshoulder to the wheel to help achieve common goals.

To be a friend; one should go more than halfway with his fellow men; he should greet others first and not wait to be greeted; he should radiate a spirit of overflowing good will.

To be a friend; one should remember that we are human magnets - what we give - we get.

To be a friend, one should recognize that no man knows all the answers, and that he should add each day to his knowledge of how to live the friendly way.

...............My favorite is the second to the last paragraph! :o)