This QOTD came up after speaking to John . . .

[taratemima]

"You can trust us to stick to you through thick and thin - to the bitter end. And you can trust us to keep any secret of yours - closer than you keep it yourself. But you cannot trust us to let you face trouble alone, and go off without a word. We are your friends, Frodo."

- Meriadoc (Merry) Brandybuck in "The Lord of the Rings" by J. R. R. Tolkein (1954) "The Followship of The Ring".