another amazing quote from prince of honesty, silver jew David Berman's new blog, mentholmountains.

"It was from two drunken Ukrainian peasants that I learned the true meaning of friendship," taught Rabbi Mendel of Rimanov. "I heard one say to another, "Ivan do you really love me?" "Yes," answered his friend. "But do you really love me?" Again came the positive response. Said the first one, "If you really love me, Ivan, why don't you know what really bothers me?" From then on, R'Mendel insisted that he was obligated to try and find out what troubled another, even if they insisted, as most people do, that everything is fine.

-from "Pirkei Avos"