Even where the affections are not strongly moved by any superior excellence, the companions of our childhood always possess a certain power over our … - Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley

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Even where the affections are not strongly moved by any superior excellence, the companions of our childhood always possess a certain power over our minds which hardly any later friend can obtain. They know our infantine dispositions, ...; and they can judge of our actions with more certain conclusions as to the integrity of our motives.