Iam virtutem ex consuetudine vitae sermonisque nostri interpretemur [...] Principio, qui potest esse vita vitalis, ut ait Ennius, quae non in amici mutua benevolentia conquiescat? Quid dulcius quam habere quicum omnia audeas sic loqui ut tecum? Qui esset tantus fructus in prosperis rebus, nisi haberes qui illis aeque ac tu ipse gauderet? Adversas vero ferre difficile esset sine eo qui illas gravius etiam quam tu ferret. Denique ceterae res quae expetuntur opportunae sunt singulae rebus fere singulis; divitiae ut utare; opes ut colare; honores ut laudere; voluptates ut gaudeas; valetudo ut dolore careas et muneribus fungare corporis: amicitia res plurimas continet. Quoquo te verteris praesto est: nullo loco excluditur: nunquam intempestiva, nunquam molesta est. Itaque non aqua, non igni, ut aiunt, locis pluribus utimur quam amicitia. Neque ego nunc de vulgari aut de mediocri, quae tamen ipsa et delectat et prodest, sed de vera et perfecta loquor, qualis eorum qui pauci nominantur fuit. Nam et secundas res splendidiores facit amicitia, et adversas partiens communicansque leviores.

Now let us interpret virtue from the habit of our life and our speech [...] In principle, what can be vital life, as Ennius says, which does not rest in the mutual benevolence of friends? What is sweeter than to have someone with whom you dare to talk so much to you? Who would be so fruitful in successful things, unless you had someone who would enjoy them as much as you yourself? But it would be difficult to bear your adversaries without someone who would bear them even more heavily than you. Finally, the other things that are sought are suitable for almost every single thing; wealth to use; wealth to worship; honors to praise; that you may enjoy pleasures; health that you may be free from pain and perform the functions of the body: friendship contains many things. It is available wherever you turn: in no place is it excluded: it is never untimely, never troublesome. Therefore, not water, not fire, as they say, we use more places than friendship. I am not speaking now of the vulgar or of the average, which is nevertheless both pleasing and profitable, but of the true and perfect, such as was the quality of those who have been named a few. For friendship makes second things more splendid, and adversities lighter by sharing and sharing.