QuoteProject
It is by chance that we met, by choice that we became friends.
Henri Nouwen
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

Friendships can begin unexpectedly, but their growth depends on our intentional choices.

This quote highlights the serendipitous nature of meeting someone and the subsequent importance of choice in nurturing a friendship. While our initial encounters may be random occurrences, it is our decisions and efforts that transform those encounters into meaningful relationships.

Themes

ChanceChoiceFriendshipRelationshipsConnections

In practice

Example use cases

In a speech about the importance of connections in our lives.

More from Henri Nouwen

The Christian leader of the future is called to be completely irrelevant and to stand in this world with nothing to offer but his or her own vulnerable self. God loves us, not because of what we do or accomplish, but because God has created and redeemed us in love.
Henri NouwenRead
The immense joy in welcoming back the lost son hides in the immense sorrow that has gone before....our brokenness may appear beautiful, but our brokenness has no other beauty but the beauty that comes from the compassion that surrounds it.
Henri NouwenRead
Suffering invites us to place our hurts in larger hands. In Christ we see God suffering – for us. And calling us to share in God’s suffering love for a hurting world. The small and even overpowering pains of our lives are intimately connected with the greater pains of Christ. Our daily sorrows are anchored in a greater sorrow and therefore a larger hope.
Henri NouwenRead
To listen is very hard, because it asks of us so much interior stability that we no longer need to prove ourselves by speeches, arguments, statements or declarations. True listeners no longer have an inner need to make their presence known. They are free to receive, welcome, to accept.
Henri NouwenRead
Waiting is a dry desert between where we are and where we want to be. (Finding My Way Home)
Henri NouwenRead
Becoming the beloved is pulling the truth revealed to me from above down into the ordinariness of what I am, in fact, thinking of, talking about and doing from hour to hour.
Henri NouwenRead

Similar quotes

Good friend for Jesus sake forbeare, To digg the dust encloased heare! Blest be the man that spares thes stones, And curst be he that moves my bones.
William ShakespeareRead
You shone like a star. The funniest, wisest writer & the finest friend
Neil GaimanRead
Friendship is not something you can learn in college or some learning institution, no one knows how to become friends you just become but if you haven't learned the meaning of friendship you haven't learned anything
Muhammad AliRead
Admonish your friends privately, but praise them openly.
Publilius SyrusRead
When I was a footballer, I surrounded myself with footballers. We were all friends. But in Brasilia you don't know who your friends are. It can be a dangerous place.
PeleRead
Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind. "Pooh?" he whispered. "Yes, Piglet?" "Nothing," said Piglet, taking Pooh's hand. "I just wanted to be sure of you.
A. A. MilneRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.