Vatican Saying 28

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Translation

Template:Vatican Saying 28

Analysis

In this Saying, Epicurus warns against both opposites, the person who rushes into a new friendship and the one who is excessively cautious in offering his own. The former may be insincere, motivated rather by the mercenary sort of hope for some benefit he/she expects to derive from this new friendship; the latter is probably a dour person, lacking in human warmth and generosity, who sees more threat than joy in the prospect of a new relationship. Both must be viewed askance.

Furthermore, one should be even willing to expose oneself to some risks for the sake of one's friends. Friendship is not without sacrifice, or at least the willingness to make such sacrifice when called upon. The hopes we harbor that, should we need them, our friends will come to our aid is further elaborated on in Vatican Saying 34.

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