On Human Friendship

Extract

Prologue: While I was yet a boy at school and took great delight in the company of my fellows, in the midst of the habits and vices with which that period of life is usually beset, my energy was wholly given to affection and devoted to love; so that nothing seemed to me more pleasing, nothing more joyful, nothing more useful, than to be loved and to love. So, fluctuating between diverse loves and friendships, my mind was dragged hither and thither, and being ignorant of the law of true friendship, was often deceived by its mere image. At length there came into my hands Cicero's book on friendship, which immediately presented itself to me as useful by the sanity of its opinions and as enjoyable by its perfection of style. And although I did not see myself fit for such friendship, I rejoiced at having found some rule of friendship to which I could conform the course of my loves and affections.