Book 4
1
In society and the common life and intercourse of conversation and business, some men are considered to be Obsequious; these are people who complaisantly approve of everything and never raise objections, but think it a duty to avoid giving pain to those which whom they come in contact.
2
Those on the contrary who object to everything and do not care in the least what pain they cause, are called Surly or Quarrelsome.
3
Now it is clear that the dispositions described are blameworthy, and that the middle disposition between them is praiseworthy—that is, the tendency to acquiesce in the right things, and likewise to disapprove of the right things, in the right manner.
4
But to this no special name has been assigned, though it very closely resembles friendshipAt 2.7.13 it was actually termed φιλία, Friendliness.; for he who exemplifies this middle disposition is the sort of man we mean by the expression a good friend, only that includes an element of affection.
