1These, then, are the limits I think we should use: that when the characters of friends are flawless, there should be between them a sharing of all things, plans and wishes without any exception, so that even if by some chance it happens that the less just wishes of friends must be assisted, where their life or reputation is at stake, we should turn aside from the path, provided that utter disgrace does not follow; 1for there is a point up to which indulgence can be granted to friendship. 1Nor indeed should reputation be neglected, nor should we think the goodwill of our fellow citizens a slight weapon for the conduct of affairs, though it is shameful to gather it by flattery and fawning; 1virtue, which affection follows, is by no means to be rejected.
62But (for I often return to Scipio, whose whole talk was about friendship) he used to complain that men were more careful in all other matters; 62that each could say how many goats and sheep he had, but could not say how many friends he had; 62and that in acquiring the former they took pains, but in choosing friends they were careless, and had no signs, as it were, and marks by which to judge those who were suited to friendship. 62We must therefore choose men who are firm, stable and constant, a kind of which there is a great scarcity; 62and it is truly hard to judge except after trial, but the trial must be made in the friendship itself: thus friendship runs ahead of judgement and removes the chance of making trial.
63It is therefore the part of a prudent man to check the rush of goodwill as he would a horse in its course, so that we may use friendship, as we use horses that have been tested, once the characters of our friends have been tried in some measure. 63Some men are often found out in a small sum of money, and it is seen how fickle they are; 63others, whom a small sum could not move, are discovered in a large one. 63But if some are found who think it base to prefer money to friendship, where shall we find those who do not put offices, magistracies, commands, powers and wealth before friendship, so that, when these are set before them on one side and the claims of friendship on the other, they would not far rather have the former?
63For human nature is weak when it comes to despising power, and even if men have attained it by neglecting friendship, they think this will be thrown into the shade, because friendship was neglected for no small reason. 64And so true friendships are very hard to find among those who are engaged in public office and public affairs. 64For where could you find the man who would put his friend's advancement before his own? 64Well then? 64to say nothing of these things, how heavy, how hard most people find it to share in misfortunes, and it is not easy to find those who will stoop to them. 64Although Ennius says rightly, 'A sure friend is discerned in an unsure affair,' 64yet these two things convict most men of fickleness and weakness: either they look down on a friend when their own affairs go well, or they desert him when his go badly.
64The man, therefore, who has shown himself in friendship steadfast, constant and stable in both conditions, him we ought to judge to be of a most rare kind of man, almost divine.