I mean, he who has received a kindness requites it by Kindly Feeling towards his benefactor, and is right in so doing: but he who wishes another to be prosperous, because he has hope of advantage through his instrumentality, does not seem to be kindly disposed to that person but rather to himself; just as neither is he his friend if he pays court to him for any interested purpose.
Where these words come from
- Lots of sources credit Aristotle with this, and they agree with each other. The book or the speech it first came from hasn't turned up yet.
- https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/8438/pg8438-images.html
More from Aristotle
See allKnowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.
AristotleThe roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet.AristotleThe greatest thing by far is to have a command of metaphor.AristotleWithout friends no one would choose to live, though he had all other goods.AristotleNature makes nothing in vain.Aristotleso too we become just by doing just acts, temperate by doing temperate acts, brave by doing brave acts.Aristotle
AristotleThe roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet.AristotleThe greatest thing by far is to have a command of metaphor.AristotleWithout friends no one would choose to live, though he had all other goods.AristotleNature makes nothing in vain.Aristotleso too we become just by doing just acts, temperate by doing temperate acts, brave by doing brave acts.AristotleMore on friendship
It takes a village to raise a child.African proverbThe typical expression of opening Friendship would be something like, 'What? You too? I thought I was the only one.'
C.S. LewisMy friends are my 'estate.' Forgive me then the avarice to hoard them.
Emily DickinsonThe only way to have a friend is to be one.
Ralph Waldo EmersonIs it not delightful to have friends coming from distant quarters?
ConfuciusThe better part of one's life consists of his friendships.
Abraham Lincoln
C.S. LewisMy friends are my 'estate.' Forgive me then the avarice to hoard them.Emily DickinsonThe only way to have a friend is to be one.Ralph Waldo EmersonIs it not delightful to have friends coming from distant quarters?ConfuciusThe better part of one's life consists of his friendships.Abraham Lincoln