Epicurus and his followers supply some of my favorite observations about life:

“He who desires to live tranquilly without having anything to fear from other men, ought to make himself friends; those whom he cannot make friends of, he should, at least, avoid rendering enemies; and if that is not in his power, he should, as far as possible, avoid all intercourse with them, and keep them aloof, as far as it is in his interest to do so.”

And…

“Of all the things which wisdom provides for the happiness of the whole life, by far the most important is the acquisition of friendship.”