۱٫ Friendship is above reason, for, though you find virtues in a friend, he was your friend before you found them. 2. It is a gift that we offer because we must; To give it as the reward of virtue would be to set a price upon it, and those who do that have no friendship to give. 3. If you choose your friends on the ground that you are virtuous and want virtuous company, you are no nearer to true friendship than if you choose them for commercial reasons. 4. Besides, who are you that you should be setting a price upon your friendship? 5. It is enough for any man that he has the divine power of making friends, and he must leave it to that power to determine who his friends shall be. 6. 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. 7. It comes, like sleep, when you are not thinking about it; and you should be grateful, without any misgiving, when it comes.