Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until… — Anaïs Nin · Smartyfair

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 Nin1903–1977 · writer · 1900s France & USAAnaïs Nin was a French-American writer best known for her extensive personal diaries, kept for over sixty years, which explored her inner life, relationships, and creativity with remarkable honesty.7 quotes

Source foundFriendship1900s

In plain words

A new friend wakes up a part of you that was not there before they arrived.

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Where these words come from

How sure this is: 85% sureThese words were traced back to where they first appeared. That source is listed below.
What turned up: The Diary of Anaïs Nin, Vol. 2 (1934-1939, pub. 1967), entry of March 1937.
Work: The Diary of Anaïs Nin, Vol. 2 (1934-1939)
Occasion: March 1937 · a diary reflection on what each new friendship awakens
Sources checked: en.wikiquote.orgChecked using claude-fable-5, 22 August 2026Sourced diary entry, March 1937. Entered as the COMPLETE sentence (139 chars) — the widely-circulated short form stops at 'until they arrive'; the full sentence's ending elaborates, never reverses.

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More from Anaïs Nin

We write to taste life twice, in the moment, and in retrospection.

Anaïs Nin I will not adjust myself to the world. I am adjusted to myself.

Anaïs Nin You cannot save people, you can only love them.

Anaïs Nin The dream has to be translated into reality.

Anaïs Nin The poet is one who is able to keep the fresh vision of the child alive.

Anaïs Nin Life shrinks or expands according to one's courage.

More on friendship

It takes a village to raise a child.African proverb The typical expression of opening Friendship would be something like, 'What? You too? I thought I was the only one.'

C.S. Lewis My friends are my 'estate.' Forgive me then the avarice to hoard them.

Emily Dickinson Without friends no one would choose to live, though he had all other goods.

Aristotle The only way to have a friend is to be one.

Ralph Waldo Emerson Is it not delightful to have friends coming from distant quarters?