"Friendship is above reason, for thought you find virtues in a friend, he was your friend before you found them. It is a gift that we offer because we must ; to give it as the reward of virtue would be ti set a price upon it; and those who that have no friendship to give . If you choose your friends on the ground that you are virtuous and want virtuous compny, you are no nearer to true friendship than if you choose them for commercial reasons. Besides, whi are you that you should be setting a price upon friendship? It is enough for any man that he has the divine power of making frienda, and he must leave it to that power to determine who his friends shall be. For though you may choose the virtuous to be your friends , they may not choose you; indeed friendship cannot grow where there is any calculated choice. It cones like sleep; and you should be grateful, whithout any misgiving ,when it comes."
