Why Can't We Be Friends?

I was intrigued by my Anonymous followers notion of "to have a friend, you have to be a friend" comment. What is Friendship?

"Friendship is the cooperative and supportive relationship between people, or animals. In this sense, the term connotes a relationship which involves mutual knowledge, esteem, affection, and respect along with a degree of rendering service to friends in times of need or crisis..."

Since 'Anonymous' had an interest in this particular quote:

"The only way to have a friend is to be one.”

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

I did a little bit of research and found this response as to the meaning of the above quote. "Emerson teaches a simple truth here. We cannot demand true friendship of someone if we are not doing our part. Nor can we merit that true friendship without being a true friend."  Take that as you will and apply it to your own friendships. 

So here's to you 'Anonymous' some friendship quotes:

"Friendship isn't a big thing - it's a million little things" --Unknown

"Stay strong, and remember that relationships are like broken glass, sometimes it's better to leave it alone rather than try to put the pieces back together and get hurt"

"Friendship isn't about whom you have known the longest... It's about who came, and never left your side."

"You can hardly make a friend in a year, but you can easily offend one in an hour." -- Chinese Proverb

"True friends not only protect you from others when something goes bad, but from yourself when you try to take blame."

"A friend is there before you know it, to lend a hand before you ask it, and give you love just when you need it most."

"Friends are … the people you are reminded of when you see something they might like and you know this because you know them so well. They are the people whose pictures you have and whose faces are in your head, regardless. They are the people you feel safe around because you know they care about you. They call just to see how you are doing, because a friend doesn’t need an excuse. They tell you the truth, the first time, and you do the same. You know that if you have a problem, they are there to listen. They are the people who won’t laugh at you or hurt you, and if they do hurt you they try hard to make it up to you. They are the people you love, regardless of whether you realize it or not. They are the people whose hand you can hold, or you can hug or give them a kiss and not have it be awkward because they understand the things you do and they love you for them. They stick with you and stand by you. They hold your hand. They watch you live and you watch them live and you learn from them. Your life is not the same without them."

"A loyal friend laughs at your jokes when they're not so good, and sympathizes with your problems when they're not so bad."
--Arnold H. Glasgow

I'm intersted to see what everyone else thinks of Ralph's quote and it's meaning and what are some things that your friends have done for you, helped you through, and what you think it takes to be a good friend.