Make new friends, but keep the old;
Those are silver, these are gold.
New-made friendships, like new wine,
Age will mellow and refine.
Friendships that have stood the test -
Time and change - are surely best;
Brow may wrinkle, hair grow gray,
Friendship never knows decay.
For 'mid old friends, tried and true,
Once more we our youth renew.
But old friends, alas! may die;
New friends must their place supply.
Cherish friendship in your breast -
New is good, but old is best;
Make new friends, but keep the old;
Those are silver, these are gold.
Joseph Parry (1841-1903)
Particularly pertinent advice, this, for our situation here in Beijing, I fear, where all is transience and change, friends leaving, moving on every few years. At least I'm not at an advanced enough age that my friends are dying off; but I am in that zone where most of them are married with kids, or thinking about it soon, or at least starting to "get serious" about their relationships and their careers.
I have nothing against any of that. It just doesn't leave much time for drinking, that's all. Or for pool. Or for generally hanging out.
Those are silver, these are gold.
New-made friendships, like new wine,
Age will mellow and refine.
Friendships that have stood the test -
Time and change - are surely best;
Brow may wrinkle, hair grow gray,
Friendship never knows decay.
For 'mid old friends, tried and true,
Once more we our youth renew.
But old friends, alas! may die;
New friends must their place supply.
Cherish friendship in your breast -
New is good, but old is best;
Make new friends, but keep the old;
Those are silver, these are gold.
Joseph Parry (1841-1903)
Particularly pertinent advice, this, for our situation here in Beijing, I fear, where all is transience and change, friends leaving, moving on every few years. At least I'm not at an advanced enough age that my friends are dying off; but I am in that zone where most of them are married with kids, or thinking about it soon, or at least starting to "get serious" about their relationships and their careers.
I have nothing against any of that. It just doesn't leave much time for drinking, that's all. Or for pool. Or for generally hanging out.
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