The great effect of friendship is beneficence, yet by the first act of uncommon kindness it is endangered.
Interpretation
Friendship brings great benefits, but even small acts of kindness can put it at risk.
This quote by Samuel Johnson suggests that friendship has a profound positive impact on our lives, providing us with support and happiness. However, it also implies that the delicate nature of friendship can be threatened by our actions, emphasizing the need for care in how we express kindness and regard towards our friends.
In practice
In a speech about the importance of maintaining friendships, one might say, 'As Samuel Johnson wisely noted, the great effect of friendship is beneficence.'
To be of no church is dangerous. Religion, of which the rewards are distant, and which is animated only by faith and hope, will glide by degrees out of the mind unless it be invigorated and reimpressed by external ordinances, by stated calls to worship, and the salutary influence of example.
He that reads and grows no wiser seldom suspects his own deficiency, but complains of hard words and obscure sentences, and asks why books are written which cannot be understood.
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 the weary pilgrimage.
Fly-fishing may be a very pleasant amusement; but angling or float fishing I can only compare to a stick and a string, with a worm at one end and a fool at the other.
When any anxiety or gloom of the mind takes hold of you, make it a rule not to publish it by complaining; but exert yourselves to hide it, and by endeavoring to hide it you drive it away.
A fishing rod is a stick with a hook at one end and a fool at the other.
If hatred strikes you, if you get accused, thrown to the lions, you can expect one of two reactions from people who know you: some of them will join in the kill, the others will discreetly pretend to know nothing, hear nothing, so you can go right on seeing them and talking to them. That second category, discreet and tactful, those are your friends. 'Friends' in the modern sense of the term. Listen, Jean-Marc, I've known that forever.
There is no surer foundation for a beautiful friendship than a mutual taste in literature.
Without a doubt, my richest relationships are my long-term friendships with musical partners, because we make music together. That's what we love to do with our lives.
You were the one who made things different, you were the one who took me in. You were the one thing I could count on, above all, you were my friend.
It's fun to meet people from throughout the world who you don't have to explain yourself to.
I do not believe in communism any more than you do but there is nothing wrong with the Communists in this country. Several of the best friends I have got are Communists.
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