Friendship is an obstetric art; it draws out our richest and deepest resources; it unfolds the wings of our dreams and hidden indeterminate thoughts; it serves as a check on our judgments, tries out our new ideas, keeps up our ardor, and inflames our enthusiasm.
-Sertillanges
William Dare 
does this include livejournall friends? 😀
indeed.. but only the special ones 🙂