People
No distance of place or lapse of time can lessen the friendship of those who are thoroughly persuaded of each other's worth.
— Robert Southey
Behind the line May contain spoilers.
Our reading
An editorial interpretation.
Friendship built on real mutual respect survives miles and years, the speaker says. If two people are truly convinced of each other's worth, then neither distance nor passing time can shrink the bond, because the belief holding it together doesn't depend on being nearby.
Context reviewed