An old friend never can be ...

An old friend never can be found, and nature has provided that he cannot easily be lost.
An old friend never can be found, and nature has provided that he cannot easily be lost.

Quotes from the same author

If a man does not make new acquaintances as he advances through life, he will soon find himself left alone. A man, sir, should keep his friendship in a constant repair.
To keep your secret is wisdom; but to expect others to keep it is folly.
Love is the wisdom of the fool and the folly of the wise.
Memory is the mother of all wisdom.
Friendship, like love, is destroyed by long absence, though it may be increased by short intermissions.