But friendship, compounded of esteem and love, derives from one its tenderness, and its permanence from the other; and therefore requires not only that its candidates should gain the judgment, but that they should attract the affections; that they should not only be firm in the day of distress, but gay in the hour of jollity; not only useful in exigencies, but pleasing in familiar life; their presence should give cheerfulness as well as courage, and dispel alike the gloom of fear and of melancholy.
Where these words come from
- 95% sureThese words were traced back to where they first appeared. That source is listed below.
- The Rambler, no. 64 (October 27, 1750), in Works, vol. II, p. 307; Complete sentence on friendship combining affection and esteem, support in difficulty and shared pleasure. Full essay read in Johnson Essays transcription; selected wording cross-checked against documented Works edition. Original Eng
- The Rambler, no. 64 (October 27, 1750), in Works, vol. II, p. 307
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