The better part of one's life consists of his friendships. — Abraham Lincoln · Smartyfair

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The better part of one's life consists of his friendships. — Abraham Lincoln · Smartyfair

The better part of one's life consists of his friendships.

Abraham Lincoln1809–1865 · leader · 1800s USAAbraham Lincoln was the 16th president of the United States, leading the country through the Civil War and working to end slavery through the Emancipation Proclamation.5 quotes

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In plain words

Friends are one of the best parts of a life.

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Where these words come from

How sure this is: 88% sureThese words were traced back to where they first appeared. That source is listed below.
What turned up: Letter to Joseph Gillespie, July 13, 1849. Sourced on Wikiquote's 1840s section; matches Collected Works letters as compiled at Abraham Lincoln Online.
Work: Letter to Joseph Gillespie
Occasion: 1849
Sources checked: en.wikiquote.orgChecked using claude-sonnet-5, 21 August 2026Sourced section, 1840s, cites the Gillespie letter by date
abrahamlincolnonline.org

More from Abraham Lincoln

Determine that the thing can and shall be done, and then we shall find the way.

Abraham Lincoln

More on friendship

It takes a village to raise a child.African proverb The typical expression of opening Friendship would be something like, 'What? You too? I thought I was the only one.'

Friendship

1800s

Checked using claude-sonnet-5, 21 August 2026

Cross-reference for Lincoln's personal-letter quotes

Nothing made from these words yet — Storyfaire is where they get made.

A capacity, and taste, for reading, gives access to whatever has already been discovered by others.

Abraham Lincoln

Leave nothing for to-morrow which can be done to-day.

Abraham Lincoln

The way for a young man to rise, is to improve himself every way he can.

Abraham Lincoln

C.S. Lewis

My friends are my 'estate.' Forgive me then the avarice to hoard them.

Emily Dickinson

Without friends no one would choose to live, though he had all other goods.

The only way to have a friend is to be one.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Is it not delightful to have friends coming from distant quarters?