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[82]
22. But most men unreasonably, not to say
shamelessly, want a friend to be such as they
cannot be themselves and require from friends what
they themselves do not bestow. But the fair thing
is, first of all, to be a good man yourself and
then to seek another like yourself. It is among
such men that this stability of friendship, of
which I have been treating for some time, may
[p. 191]
be made secure; and when united by ties of goodwill, they will first of all subdue those passions to
which other men are slaves; and, next, they will
delight in what is equitable and accords with law,
and will go to all lengths for each other; they will
not demand from each other anything unless it is
honourable and just, and they will not only cherish
and love, but they will also revere, each other. For
he who takes reverence from friendship, takes away
its brightest jewel.
Cicero: De Senectute De Amicitia De Divinatione. With An English Translation. William Armistead Falconer. Cambridge. Harvard University Press; Cambridge, Mass., London, England. 1923.
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