"Friendship demands a commitment of our persons in a very demanding way. There are deaths every day in loving others — death to the selfish ego that wants to turn in on itself, death to the impulses whose unthinking gratification has been easily and cheaply rationalized over the last several years. There is nothing easy about becoming a friend. It requires maturity, self-discipline, and a willingness to be understanding even when we are tired of the effort.
"But there is nothing like friendship, nothing better for all those around us. The joy of friendship makes its sacrifices far less difficult than they would otherwise be. The sense of ourselves delivered by friendship is unparalleled. It is absolutely the right thing for us struggling human beings. It is with that overriding understanding that we turn, sometimes with anxiety and uncertainty, to every day's work of friendship, the affectionate miracle that plunges us into the midst of mystery and reveals the world to us."