[
22]
Therefore, among men like those just mentioned,
friendship offers advantages
1 almost beyond my
power to describe. In the first place, how can life
be what Ennius calls “the life worth living,” if it
does not repose on the mutual goodwill of a friend?
What is sweeter than to have someone with whom
you may dare discuss anything as if you were communing with yourself? How could your enjoyment
in times of prosperity be so great if you did not have
someone whose joy in them would be equal to your
[p. 133]
own? Adversity would indeed be hard to bear,
without him to whom the burden would be heavier
even than to yourself. In short, all other objects of
desire are each, for the most part, adapted to a
single end-riches, for spending; influence, for
honour; public office, for reputation; pleasures,
for sensual enjoyment; and health, for freedom from
pain and full use of the bodily functions; but friendship embraces innumerable ends; turn where you
will it is ever at your side; no barrier shuts it out;
it is never untimely and never in the way. Therefore, we do not use the proverbial
2 “fire and water”
on more occasions than we use friendship. I am
not now speaking of the ordinary and commonplace
friendship—delightful and profitable as it is—but of
that pure and faultless kind, such as was that of
the few whose friendships are known to fame.
For friendship adds a brighter radiance to prosperity
and lessens the burden of adversity by dividing and
sharing it.
3