On Friendship

"Among those who have written on friendship it has been much discussed whether the best friend is he who loves most or he who bestows the greatest benefits.

Much may be said on both sides; for, on the one hand, there is an infinite solace in the sincere affection of even the most humble friend, however unable he may be to render any material service; and, on the other hand, in the perplexities and misfortunes of life, which come to all, it is an unspeakable advantage to have one with a sound judgement and a helpful hand, who will interest himself in our affairs as if they were his own, because he is our friend. Yet I venture that neither of these is the pearl of friendship; there is something in it more valuable than either.

...If your friendship has been of a high order, the soul of it is simply the worth of him you are allowed to call your friend. He is genuine to the core; you know him through and through, and nowhere is there any twist or doubleness or guile. It may be a false and disappointing world, but you have known at least one heart that has never deceived you; and, amidst much that may have happened to lower your estimate of mankind, the image of your friend has enabled you always to believe in human nature. Surely this is the incomparable gain of friendship--fellowship with a simple, pure, and lofty soul." -- James Stalker, Imago Christi

I have, in recent times, had 'friends' whose idea of friendship was to tell me what they thought was best for me to hear, rather than the truth, and to pretend greater affection and higher regard for me than they actually bore, in order to spare my feelings. Such friendship I don't need: I much prefer Reverend Stalker's ideas on the matter, and such is the kind of friend I strive to be.