Kitap 7
13
But in reality there are many kinds of friendships: this was among the things said already,ll. 7-17. as we have distinguished three senses of the term friendship—one sort has been defined as based on goodness, another on utility, another on pleasure.
14
Of these the one based on utility is assuredly the friendship of most people; for they love one another because they are useful, and in so far as they are and so, as says the proverb—Glaucus, an ally is a friend, As long as he our battle fights,A friend in need is a friend indeed. and Athens no longer knows Megara. Fr. Eleg. Adespota 6 (Bergk)
15
On the other hand friendship based on pleasure is the friendship of the young, for they have a sense of what is pleasant; hence young people’s friendship easily changes, for since their characters change as they grow up, their taste in pleasure also changes. But the friendship in conformity with goodness is the friendship of the best men.
16
It is clear from this that the primary friendship, that of the good, is mutual reciprocity of affection and purpose. For the object of affection is dear to the giver of it, but also the giver of affection is himself dear to the object.
