Howard Hendricks and William Hendricks give the following quote in their book As Iron Sharpens Iron: Building Character in a Mentoring Relationship. This is a book you should definitely read ASAP.

Consultant Bobb Biehl is a master at the art of asking good questions. One of his most profound is: “Who will attend your funeral without looking at his watch?”

A question like that kind of redefines the meaning of friendship, doesn’t it? I hate to think of how many men are going to die having had numerous acquaintances, but few, if any, real friends. Will that be the case for you?

MIssionary Evangelist John O'Malley wrote in Bread from Bethlehem:

The old preacher said to the younger preacher, “If in this life’s course you are given five real friends, you will be most blessed.” Truly, real friends are hard to find. Their value cannot be assessed with money. God is so good to allow us to make friends and be a friend.

Bill George in Authentic Leadership

True friends are those that you know you can count on, no matter what happens to you. Some people in prominent positions think they have many friends, only to find that their friends disappear when they lose their jobs or retire. That's the time when real friends reach out to each other.

Other posts about friendship

A True Friend Sticks

Showing Real Friendship