Best Friendship Quotes for Midlife Women

“She’s taught me about confidence, focus, and how to listen—really listen—to other women. She’s the kind of friend that makes you better.” —Amy Poehler on Tina Fey

“Independent in the most gorgeous way, cares for everyone even if she doesn’t know you ... fiercely loyal to the end.” —Jennifer Aniston on Courteney Cox

“We are friends for life. When we’re together the years fall away. Isn’t that what matters? To have someone who can remember with you? To have someone who remembers how far you’ve come?” —Judy Blume, Best Friends

“Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.” —Anaïs Nin, The Diary of Anaïs Nin

“The most important part of a Big Friendship is making the decision to invest in each other again and again.” —Aminatou Sow & Ann Friedman, Big Friendship: How We Keep Each Other Close

“One’s life has value so long as one attributes value to the life of others, by means of love, friendship, and compassion.” —Simone de Beauvoir, The Coming of Age

A girl who has your back, no matter what, is a friend worth keeping, as these sentiments show.

“One friend with whom you have a lot in common is better than three with whom you struggle to find things to talk about.” —Mindy Kaling, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?

“Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down.” —Oprah Winfrey, commencement address at Wellesley College

“My definition of a friend is somebody who adores you even though they know the things you’re most ashamed of.” —Jodie Foster

“Friendships between women, as any woman will tell you, are built of a thousand small kindnesses ... swapped back and forth and over again.” —Michelle Obama, Becoming

“Social media has given us this idea that we should all have a posse of friends when in reality, if we have one or two really good friends, we are lucky.” —Brené Brown

“There’s a marked difference between acquaintances and friends. In a friendship you get to know the spirit of another person; and your values coincide.” —Maya Angelou, Essence

“Abandon the cultural myth that all female friendships must be bitchy, toxic, or competitive. This myth is like heels and purses—pretty but designed to SLOW women down.” —Roxane Gay, “How to Be Friends with Another Woman,” in Bad Feminist

Midlife calls for cross-your-legs-or-else kind of laughter, and chances are there’s no one who makes you laugh like your best girlfriends.

“There is nothing like puking with somebody to make you into old friends.” —Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar

“This is such a stone-cold pack of weirdos, and I am so proud!” —Maya Rudolph as Lillian in Bridesmaids

“Every so often I would look at my women friends who were happily married and didn’t cook, and I would always find myself wondering how they did it.” —Rachel Samstat character in Heartburn

“Laughter through tears is my favorite emotion.” —Dolly Parton as Truvy Jones in Steel Magnolias

True friends shine through during the hardest of times.

“I found out what the secret to life is: friends. Best friends.” —Ninny Threadgoode, Fried Green Tomatoes

“There’s nothing like a conversation with a woman that understands you. I grow so much from those conversations. I need my sisters.” —Beyoncé, Beyoncé: Life Is But a Dream

“Remember, ‘No one’s more important than people!’ Friendship is the most important thing—not career or housework, or one's fatigue—and it needs to be tended and nurtured.” —Julia Child, My Life in France

“What will I do without a best friend?” —Bette Midler as CC Bloom in Beaches

“Constant use had not worn ragged the fabric of their friendship.” —Dorothy Parker, Complete Stories

"Sometimes I think of my friends as family, too. Is that weird? I don’t know. But my friends do feel like family." —Anne M. Martin, The Babysitters Club: Dawn Saves the Planet