A friend is one of the rarest blessings that a man man may have. A true friend is one who stands by a man through good and through evil. He is equally ready to share the joys of prosperity and the pangs of adversity. He is not a summer bird who flies away in the frosty days of winter. He is not a soft-spoken flatterer who says what will give pleasure only, irrespective of whether it is true or false. He is not afraid to speak out the honest truth, however unpalatable it may be, if it is for you good. He is always a sincere well-wisher, never a sweet-mouthed sycophant.
Naturally, in this hard world, it is always good to have a friend. Life is full of ups and downs. Prosperity and adversity come and go as sunshine and cloudy weather. The companionship of a good friend increases our happiness in prosperity and diminishes our sorrow in adversity. Men may gather round our festive board when we are blessed by fortune, but they will quietly leave us severely alone when adversity darkens our life and we fall crushed and helpless and then will come our true friend and he will be with use to cheer our drooping spirits, and share our misfortunes, and lighten the heavy burden that hangs on our minds.
Since such are the uses of friendship, it is one of life's choicest blessings to have a few sincere friends. This one of life's choicest blessings to have a few sincere friends. This is not as easy as ti may seem. For to attract friends, One Must oneself be attractive. For this, the first thing necessary is to have a trustful nature. Confidence alone begets confidence. One must have no secret from a real friend. Secondly, one must be tolerant and forbearing. No man is all good, and if one is always fault-finding, it will produce a feeling of natural irritation. This leads to estrangement. It is only when friendship is tested by the trials of life that faults may be pointed out without creating ill-will. Thirdly, there can be no true or lasting friendship between men of unequal status or worth, if there is condescension on one side only and admiration on the other. Real friendship is possible between equals, or as Dr. Johnson says, "where the superiority on one side is reduced by some equivalent advantages on the other, for friendship, it has been well said is the disinterested commerce between equals." In other words, there must be no intention on none side or the other to make friendship a matter of gain or convenience. Finally, when you have a true friend, "grapple him to your heart with hoops of steel." You must not allow it to be disturbed by trifling things, by envy or jealousy or suspicion. If you keep your mind clear, it will be filled with the delicate air of love and goodwill.
If to make friends is a science, to preserve it is an art. It depends on cultivating a spirit of harmony and proportion. One must not be too exacting. Having won a friend, one must nurture him with love and affection. Friendship must not be taken for granted, but must be constantly tended with acts of kindness. The aim must be to serve more than exact, to give more than receive. And what is given must be without reserve, what is received must be recognized as a privilege. Again to quote Dr. Johnson, "A man, sir, should keep his friendship in constant repair."
Though friendship is no doubt a great blessing, yet it is not without its drawbacks, and it is good to know these beforehand. For one thing, friendship may make one rather uncharitable in one's judgement to the rest of mankind. Secure in one anther's goodwill and affection, one may easily assume a superior attitude towards those who are outside the magic cricle, as though these were of no consequence. It is also easy for friends to become conspiratorial, to join in designs against others for securing mutual benefits. It is good to make friends, it is good to make friends, it is bad to use them against others; and it is dangerous to make enemies of the rest of the world.
Since such are the uses of friendship, it is one of life's choicest blessings to have a few sincere friends. This one of life's choicest blessings to have a few sincere friends. This is not as easy as ti may seem. For to attract friends, One Must oneself be attractive. For this, the first thing necessary is to have a trustful nature. Confidence alone begets confidence. One must have no secret from a real friend. Secondly, one must be tolerant and forbearing. No man is all good, and if one is always fault-finding, it will produce a feeling of natural irritation. This leads to estrangement. It is only when friendship is tested by the trials of life that faults may be pointed out without creating ill-will. Thirdly, there can be no true or lasting friendship between men of unequal status or worth, if there is condescension on one side only and admiration on the other. Real friendship is possible between equals, or as Dr. Johnson says, "where the superiority on one side is reduced by some equivalent advantages on the other, for friendship, it has been well said is the disinterested commerce between equals." In other words, there must be no intention on none side or the other to make friendship a matter of gain or convenience. Finally, when you have a true friend, "grapple him to your heart with hoops of steel." You must not allow it to be disturbed by trifling things, by envy or jealousy or suspicion. If you keep your mind clear, it will be filled with the delicate air of love and goodwill.
If to make friends is a science, to preserve it is an art. It depends on cultivating a spirit of harmony and proportion. One must not be too exacting. Having won a friend, one must nurture him with love and affection. Friendship must not be taken for granted, but must be constantly tended with acts of kindness. The aim must be to serve more than exact, to give more than receive. And what is given must be without reserve, what is received must be recognized as a privilege. Again to quote Dr. Johnson, "A man, sir, should keep his friendship in constant repair."
Though friendship is no doubt a great blessing, yet it is not without its drawbacks, and it is good to know these beforehand. For one thing, friendship may make one rather uncharitable in one's judgement to the rest of mankind. Secure in one anther's goodwill and affection, one may easily assume a superior attitude towards those who are outside the magic cricle, as though these were of no consequence. It is also easy for friends to become conspiratorial, to join in designs against others for securing mutual benefits. It is good to make friends, it is good to make friends, it is bad to use them against others; and it is dangerous to make enemies of the rest of the world.
