“Their friendship was only one aspect of their lives but it seemed to give meaning to all the others.”

“Lena realized that a fundamental layer of their happiness depended on the four of them being close to one another. Their lives were independent and full. Their friendship was only one aspect of their lives, but it seemed to give meaning to all the others.”

“It's not right for one friend to do all the giving and the other to do all the taking: that's not read friendship.”

“The most important aspect of love is not in giving or the receiving: it's in the being. When I need love from others, or need to give love to others, I'm caught in an unstable situation. Being in love, rather than giving or taking love, is the only thing that provides stability. Being in love means seeing the Beloved all around me.”

“We all give meaning to each other's lives. As long as we live.”

“Friendship is provisional, you have to keep earning it, back and forth, give the gift that's only each other's to give”