A friend is more to be longed for than the light; I speak of a genuine one. And wonder not: for it were better for us that the sun should be extinguished, than that we should be deprived of friends; better to live in darkness, than to be without friends John Chrysostom
About This Quote

The words of the philosopher Seneca are essential to understanding friendship. He says that "a friend is more to be longed for than the light", meaning that it is far better to have friends than to have light. It is better to have a friend than companions, he says. And wonder not, for "it were better to live in darkness, than to be without friends."

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More Quotes By John Chrysostom
  1. We follow the ways of wolves, the habits of tigers: or, rather we are worse than they. To them nature has assigned that they should be thus fed, while God has honoured us with rational speech and a sense of equity. And yet we are...
  2. Happiness can only be achieved by looking inward & learning to enjoy whatever life has and this requires transforming greed into gratitude.
  3. A friend is more to be longed for than the light; I speak of a genuine one. And wonder not: for it were better for us that the sun should be extinguished, than that we should be deprived of friends; better to live in darkness,...
  4. The potency of prayer hath subdued the strength of fire; it hath bridled the rage of lions, hushed anarchy to rest, extinguished wars, appeased the elements, expelled demons, burst the chains of death, expanded the gates of heaven, assuaged diseases, repelled frauds, rescued cities from...
  5. So it is with sorrow, each thinks his own present grief the most severe. For of this he judges by his own experience. He that is childless considers nothing so sad as to be without children; he that is poor, and has many children, complains...
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