Always, Sir, set a high value on spontaneous kindness. He whose inclination prompts him to cultivate your friendship of his own accord, will love you more than one whom you have been at pains to attach to you.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Spontaneous friendship is more valuable than friendship you have to work for because it comes from genuine affection.
- In plain terms
- Value people who choose to be your friend without you asking them to.
- What can you take from it?
- Prioritize relationships that form naturally over those you have to cultivate.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Do you value easy connections more than hard-won ones?
- How do you show appreciation for natural friends?
Another view
Some spontaneous friendships may lack depth compared to those built over time.
More from Samuel Johnson
I have two very cogent reasons for not printing any list of subscribers; - one, that I have lost all the names, - the other, that I have spent all the money.
Permalink to quote #185 To let friendship die away by negligence and silence, is certainly not wise. It is voluntarily to throw away one of the greatest comforts of this weary pilgrim…
Permalink to quote #187 A jest breaks no bones.
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