The making of friends who are real friends, is the best token we

Hear the gentle yet piercing wisdom of Edward Everett Hale: “The making of friends who are real friends, is the best token we have of a man’s success in life.” In this saying he unveils a truth that endures beyond riches and crowns: that the true measure of a life well lived is not found in gold, nor in titles, nor in fleeting applause, but in the presence of those who walk beside us in loyalty, love, and sincerity. To gain such friends is no accident; it is the fruit of character, the reward of honesty, and the crown of compassion.

Hale lived in the 19th century, a preacher and writer, a man who witnessed the shifting tides of war, progress, and human striving. He saw men rise in worldly stature, some to great wealth, some to lofty office, yet many remained empty, unaccompanied by true companionship. Thus he declared that success is not merely external achievement, but the weaving of bonds that cannot be broken by time or trial. For one who dies rich but alone has achieved little, while one who dies surrounded by faithful friends has won the highest prize of all.

Consider the story of Cicero, the Roman statesman and orator, who praised friendship in his work Laelius de Amicitia. He declared that without friends, life is barren, for friends multiply our joys and divide our sorrows. In Rome, men pursued power and conquest, but Cicero reminded them that all victories are hollow without companionship to share them. Edward Everett Hale, centuries later, echoed this same wisdom: true success is not solitary triumph, but the circle of trust and loyalty formed through a life of integrity.

Think also of Abraham Lincoln, who bore the crushing burden of civil war. Though president, commander, and leader of a divided nation, he found strength in a few trusted companions—men who counseled him, supported him, and remained faithful even when the weight of the world pressed upon his shoulders. Without such friends, even Lincoln’s greatness might have broken beneath despair. Here we see the truth of Hale’s words: in trials, the presence of real friends is the surest sign of a life’s wealth.

Yet Hale does not speak of shallow ties. He warns us that not all who smile are friends, and not all who gather around us are true. The measure of a real friend is tested in adversity: do they remain when fortune fades? Do they lift when others abandon? To possess even one such companion is a treasure greater than kingship. And to make such a friend requires patience, trust, and the offering of oneself in sincerity. Thus, the creation of friendship itself becomes the work of a lifetime.

The lesson for us, O seekers of tomorrow, is luminous: strive not only for ambition, but for the cultivation of friendship. Nurture trust, speak truth, give kindness, and stand steadfast when storms rise. Seek not the many who flatter, but the few who remain. If you build such bonds, you will find that in moments of triumph, joy is doubled, and in moments of loss, sorrow is bearable.

So, take this teaching with you: measure your success not in wealth nor in acclaim, but in the number of hearts you have touched and the friends who walk beside you. Live in such a way that others may call you a true companion, loyal and steadfast. For at the end of days, when crowns have rusted and riches faded, it is the circle of friendship that will remain, shining as the true token of a life lived well.