Well I don't exactly with the above wording, but I believe Ralph Waldo Emerson said something fairly similar to this with similar meaning: "The only way to have a friend is to first be one".
I absolutely agree with both statements, in that being friendly engenders a basic trust needed to reach out, and to start and keep friendships going. First, human beings are responsive to friendliness and need a certain sense of confidence that their friendly affection will be reciprocated, and then second, who wants to befriend someone who doesn't/isn't able to act friendly to them in return --or worse, who is downright unfriendly toward them or betrays that trust?
Incidentally, another related quote that speaks to how irrestistable friendliness can be:
"If you make it plain you like people, it's hard for them to resist liking you back."
Lois McMaster Bujold, Diplomatic Immunity, 2002
I absolutely agree with both statements, in that being friendly engenders a basic trust needed to reach out, and to start and keep friendships going. First, human beings are responsive to friendliness and need a certain sense of confidence that their friendly affection will be reciprocated, and then second, who wants to befriend someone who doesn't/isn't able to act friendly to them in return --or worse, who is downright unfriendly toward them or betrays that trust?
Incidentally, another related quote that speaks to how irrestistable friendliness can be:
"If you make it plain you like people, it's hard for them to resist liking you back."
Lois McMaster Bujold, Diplomatic Immunity, 2002
