The first step in the art of friendship is to be a friend; then making friends takes care of itself.
To be a friend a man should start by being a friend to himself, by being true to his highest and best and by aligning himself with the enduring values of human life that make for growth and progress.
To be a friend a man should strive to be "like the shadow of a great rock in a weary land," to be a source of refuge and strength to those who walk in the darkness.
To be a friend a man should believe in the inherent goodness of men and in their potential greatness; he should treat men in a big spirit, expectant of a noble response.
To be a friend a man should strive to lift people up, not cast them down, to encourage, not discourage; to set an example that will be an inspiration to others.
To be a friend a man should be sensitively responsive to the dreams and aims of others and should show sincere appreciation for the contributions others make to the enrichment of his life.
To be a friend a man should practice the companionship of silence and the magic words that his speech may build and not destroy, help and not hinder.
To be a friend a man should close his eyes to the faults of others and open them to his own.
To be a friend a man should not attempt to reform or reprimand, but should strive only to make others happy if he can.
To be a friend a man should be himself, he should be done with hypocrisy, artificiality and pretense; he should meet and mingle with people in quiet simplicity and humility.
To be a friend a man should be tolerant, he should have an understanding heart and forgiving nature, knowing that all men stumble now and then, and that he who never made a mistake never accomplished anything.
To be a friend a man should join hands with all people who are working for great principles, great purpose and great cause; he should put his shoulder to the wheel to help achieve common goals.
To be a friend a man should go more than halfway in his contacts with his fellow men; he should greet others first and not wait to be greeted; he should radiate a spirit of overflowing good will.
To be a friend a man should remember that we are human magnets; that like attracts like, and that what we give we get.
To be a friend a man should recognize that the art of friendship is a lifetime study, that no man knows all the answers, and that he should add each day to his knowledge of how to live the friendly way.