the invisible ties

“i am looking for friends. what does that mean - tame?"

"it is an act too often neglected," said the fox. "it means to establish ties."

"to establish ties?"

"just that," said the fox. "to me, you are still nothing more than a little boy who is just like
a hundred thousand other little boys. and i have no need of you. and you, on your part,
have no need of me. to you i am nothing more than a fox like a hundred thousand other foxes.
but if you tame me, then we shall need each other. to me, you will be unique in all the world.
to you, i shall be unique in all the world . . .”

“people have forgotten this truth," the fox said. "but you mustn’t forget it.
you become responsible forever for what you’ve tamed. you’re responsible for your rose.” 

― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince