“Marriage is a friendship recognized by the police.”

“It is not a lack of love, but a lack of friendship that makes unhappy marriages.”

“If there is such a thing as a good marriage, it is because it resembles friendship rather than love.”

“Married people should be best friends; no relationship on earth needs friendship as much as marriage...Friendship in a marriage is so important. It blows away the chaff and takes the kernel, rejoices in the uniqueness of the other, listens patiently, gives generously, forgives freely. Friendship will motivate one to cross the room one day and say 'I'm sorry. I didn't mean that.' it will not pretend perfection nor demand it. It will not insist that both respond exactly the same in every thought and feeling, but it will bring to the union honesty, integrity. There will be repentance and forgiveness in every marriage--every good marriage--and respect and trust.”

“The best friend will probably acquire the best wife, because a good marriage is founded on the talent for friendship.”

“It was true; always had been. Friendships were like marriages in that way. Routines and patterns were poured early and hardened like cement.”