„When you ask God for a gift,
Be thankful if he sends,
Not diamonds, pearls or riches,
but the love of real true friends.“

„Friendship is a priceless gift that cannot be bought nor sold, but its value is far greater than a mountain made of gold; for gold is cold & lifeless - it can neither see nor hear, in time of trouble its powerless to cheer — it has no ears to listen, no heart to understand, it cannot bring you comfort or reach out a helping hand. So when you ask God for a gift, be thankful if sends not diamonds, pearls or riches but the love of real true friends.“

—  Muhammad Ali African American boxer, philanthropist and activist 1942 - 2016

Response to Harold Bell, question about his view on friendship in an Interview (video) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InSFYdFaS3E.

„A true friend is a gift from God. Since God doesn't exist, guess what? Neither do true friends.“

—  Scott Dikkers American comic writer 1965

Zdroj: You Are Worthless: Depressing Nuggets of Wisdom Sure to Ruin Your Day

„Imagine buying a toy for a child's pleasure and having him love the toy more than he loves you. Yet, isn't that what you've done with God?… Isn't it true that you have been guilty of ingratitude?… Have you ever humbly thanked God for the gift of life?“

—  Ray Comfort New Zealand-born Christian minister and evangelist 1949

God doesn't believe in atheists (2002)

„Tyson! Thank the gods, Annabeth is hurt!"
"You thank the gods that she is hurt?" he asked, puzzled.“

—  Rick Riordan, kniha The Sea of Monsters

Zdroj: The Sea of Monsters

„When God means you to be a healer he sends you patients; when he makes you a teacher he sends you pupils; when he destines you to be a Master he sends you stories.“

—  Anthony de Mello Indian writer 1931 - 1987

Zdroj: One Minute Nonsense (1992), p. 112

„The most desired gift of love is not diamonds or roses or chocolate. It is focused attention. “

—  Rick Warren Christian religious leader 1954

„The nation, the nation sends its love and compassion for everybody who is here. Thank you for your hard work. Thank you for making the nation proud, and may God bless America.“

—  George W. Bush 43rd President of the United States 1946

2000s, 2001, I Can Hear You, the Rest of the World Hears You (September 2001)

„Just take in peace what gifts the gods will send.“

—  Homér, The Odyssey (Cowper)

XVIII. 142 (tr. Robert Fagles).
Odyssey (c. 725 BC)
Originál: (el) Ἀλλ' ὅ γε σιγῇ δῶρα θεῶν ἔχοι, ὅττι διδοῖεν.

„I want to thank you
for so many gifts
you gave with love and tenderness
I want to thank you
I want to thank you
for your generosity
the love and the honesty
that you gave me“

—  Natalie Merchant American singer-songwriter 1963

Song lyrics, Ophelia (1998), Kind & Generous

„Who God doth late and early pray,
More of his grace than gifts to send,
And entertains the harmless day
With a well-chosen book or friend.“

—  Henry Wotton English ambassador 1568 - 1639

The Character of a Happy Life (1614), stanza 5.

„This was when she asked him whether it was true that love conquered all, as the songs said. 'It is true', he replied, 'but you would do well not to believe it.“

—  Gabriel García Márquez, kniha Of Love and Other Demons

Zdroj: Of Love and Other Demons

„At any rate, let us love for a while, for a year or so, you and me. That's a form of divine drunkenness that we can all try. There are only diamonds in the whole world, diamonds and perhaps the shabby gift of disillusion.“

—  F. Scott Fitzgerald American novelist and screenwriter 1896 - 1940

"The Diamond As Big As The Ritz"
Quoted, Tales of the Jazz Age (1922)

„When a liberal is abused, he says, ‘Thank God they didn’t beat me.’ When he is beaten, he thanks God they didn’t kill him. When he is killed, he will thank God that his immortal soul has been delivered from its mortal clay.“

—  Vladimir Lenin Russian politician, led the October Revolution 1870 - 1924

„I remember hearing about an old comic strip back in the days of St. Ed's. Two guys are talking to each other, and one of them says he has a question for God. He wants to ask why God allows all of this poverty and war and suffering to exist in the world. And his friend says, "Well, why don't you ask?" The fellow shakes his head and says he's scared. When his friend asks why, he mutters, "I'm scared God will ask me the same question."“

—  Shane Claiborne, The Irresistible Revolution

Zdroj: The Irresistible Revolution (2006), p. 65

„A word must become a friend or you will not understand it. Perhaps you do well to be cool and detached when you are seeking information, but I remind you of the wife who complained, 'When I ask John if he loves me, he thinks I am asking for information.“

—  Edward Coke English lawyer and judge 1552 - 1634

Case of Swans, 7 Rep. 15, 17 (1592).

„If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it. If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning… Face it, friend. He is crazy about you!“

—  Max Lucado American clergyman and writer 1955

„All true love to God is preceded in the heart by these two things — a sense of sin, and an assurance of pardon. There is no love possible — real, deep, genuine, worthy of being called love of God — which does not start with the belief of my own transgression, and with the thankful reception of forgiveness in Christ.“

—  Alexander Maclaren British minister 1826 - 1910

Zdroj: Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895), P. 397.

„[To the tune of I Love You from Barney & Friends]
♫ God loves you, God loves me
He wants you in His family
If you'll ask Him now, He'll come into your heart
And of His family you'll be part ♫“

—  Kent Hovind American young Earth creationist 1953

100 Reasons Evolution is So Stupid! (2001)

„True love's the gift which God has given
To man alone beneath the heaven“

—  Walter Scott, The Lay of the Last Minstrel

Canto V, stanza 13.
The Lay of the Last Minstrel (1805)
Kontext: True love's the gift which God has given
To man alone beneath the heaven:
It is not fantasy's hot fire,
Whose wishes, soon as granted, fly;
It liveth not in fierce desire,
With dead desire it doth not die;
It is the secret sympathy,
The silver link, the silken tie,
Which heart to heart, and mind to mind
In body and in soul can bind.