I quit for a few years once, then made the stupid mistake of dating the wrong girl. She wasn't a smoker like you and me were smokers, but she had cigs around, and she'd have one or two when we were partying. I thought I could manage it, but I couldn't. I quit again years ago, and now that I'm thinking about it I can't even say how long ago it was. At least 4 or 5 years, I'd say.
Addiction is such a weird thing. Conquering one will teach you a lot about yourself. I used the patch when I quit. I've also used the patch and failed to quit. I can say that the difference is that a person must truly WANT to quit -- not just lip service like what you tell your friends, but deep down where you can't even lie to yourself. Quitting aids make it less traumatic, but they won't change you. You have to change yourself, or it isn't going to work.