15 of the best Aristotle Friendship Quotes

Aristotle was an ancient Greek philosopher and scientist who is considered to be one of the greatest thinkers in psychology and ethics. One of his famous quotes is “Friendship is essentially a partnership.’ You could wonder what past philosophers like Aristotle would think today of online friendships and groups or the way friendships are today.

Are friendships any different today than they were in the past.
I feel there is a season of life you go through where you are amongst friends and then seasons of life where you are immersed in family and work, just trying to stay ahead. Then it recycles back to friendships, some new, some old friendships and some revived friendships.

Today I’ve been reflecting on relationships as part of my end of year goals review. Am I happy on my relationships this year with family as well as friends? For me, the answer is yes. My feeling about this area of my life is happy. However, I also know that relationships are an area I’ll continue developing and expanding in 2020.

In an article I read earlier today, it noted that relationships have become more transactional. Are we really bad at friendships as the article suggested or are we just more selected on who we spend our time with? For me, as for many people, time is precious and it can be a juggling act working out the time between 24/7 rosters to get together. #notanexcuse.

Being present with friends.

When you get together with family and friends, it is important to be present with them. Being present is not answering the phone or scrolling through your mobile. It is sharing, chatting and being there for each other.

One of the human needs is deep connections and relationships. Although connected online many online friends are not true connections. This can be the same in person depending on the scenario in which you are together. For examples, work friends I’m not as deeply connected to as I am personal friends.

When it comes to online friends, although above I say many are not true connections, there are many who are true connections. It is possible to connect with people online and form friendships or relationship on one of the three types of friendships Artistole speaks of.

Related post: 8 Ways to keep in touch with family overseas

15 Quotes on relationships with ourself and our friends.

1. ‘Our happiness depends upon ourselves.’ – Aristotle
2. ‘A friend to all is a friend to none.’ – Aristotle
3. ‘Most people would rather give than get affection.’ – Aristotle
4. ‘Friends hold a mirror up to each other; through that mirror, they can see each other in ways that would not otherwise be accessible to them, and it is this mirroring that helps them improve themselves as persons.’ – Aristotle
5. ‘Friendship is essentially a partnership.’ – Aristotle
6. ‘Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.’ – Aristotle
7. ‘Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies.’ – Aristotle
8. ‘My best friend is the man who in wishing me well wishes it for my sake.’ – Aristotle
9. ‘To love someone is to identify with them.’ – Aristotle
10. ‘The antidote for fifty enemies is one friend.’ – Aristotle
11. ‘I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who conquers his enemies; for the hardest victory is over self.’ – Aristotle
12. ‘Knowing yourself is the beginning of wisdom.’ – Aristotle
13. ‘Wishing to be friends is quick work, but friendship is a slow-ripening fruit.’ – Aristotle
14. ‘Nothing in life is more necessary than friendship.’ – Aristotle
15. ‘The whole is more than the sum of its parts.’ – Aristotle

Like Artistoles quote ‘Friends for a season, friends for a reason, friends for life,’ it is easy to see how friendship circles differ and how the rules are defined by our similar interests. Effectively, ‘friendship is essentially a partnership’ fits into today’s friendship circles in person and via online connections by the agreements in which bond and connect.

To see how your core values connect with your goals and relationships download the core value worksheet.

Read more quotes: 21 Jim Rohn Quotes on Goals And Successful Habits
10 Jim Rohn Quotes to inspire change