Friendship, fortunately, is a common phenomenon. At the very least, there are rarely people who openly admit that they have no friends and comrades. It is believed that the "lone wolf" is unhappy, it is difficult and sad for him, "and there is no one to give a hand to" … "You have no friends at all," they say to a person when they want to reproach him for his bad temper.
Contradictions in the definition of friendship
However, there is no consensus about this bright feeling. Numerous statements about the friendship of sages, writers, politicians and other famous people are sometimes striking in their aphorism, capacity, combined with brevity, but they have little in common. Moreover, sometimes these quotes contradict one another. Their emotional fullness wanders between touchingly optimistic and completely gloomy views, expressing complete disbelief in the existence of a disinterested relationship betweenpeople. The same applies to views of truth. In some cases, it should be said directly to the eye, without caring whether you like it or not. Under other circumstances, it is considered that it is better to keep silent about the unpleasant aspects of the character of a friend, showing delicacy. For example, Monsieur Joubert believed that it is best to look at a one-eyed friend in profile, it is clear from which side. The famous critic Vissarion Belinsky, on the contrary, believed that telling the truth is not only a right, but also a friendly duty. According to Quintilian, good relations are more important than the ability to show off wit. However, there are statements about friendship with the exact opposite meaning.
Friendly profit
Idealists believe that both love and friendship are feelings a priori disinterested. Otherwise, the relationship does not deserve these bright names and they are based on purely business considerations. However, it is also difficult to imagine that two friends never help each other, or one of them constantly and unrequitedly borrows from the other. Sooner or later, one of them will get tired of such "sponsorship", and they will part, perhaps with a scandal and a quarrel.
Sayings about friendship based on a particular interest are characteristic of John D. Rockefeller (business is a better basis for friendship than friendship for business). Not inferior to him, and P. A. Golbach, who argued that if you deprive the relationship of mutual benefits, then they will immediately stop. Skepticism was also shown by Francois de La Rochefoucauld, who saw in the joint pastime, exchangeservices and even mutual assistance selfish desire for profit. A useless friend becomes a stranger, as P. Holbach said.
Very rare
Interesting are the statements of great people about friendship as a rare phenomenon, despite the apparent prevalence. In order for it to please, a number of conditions are required. The historian Karamzin shared his opinion about the exceptional sincerity of the friendship that arose in the early years. It is difficult to argue with this, because in childhood and adolescence, people, as a rule, are far from material interests or prejudices. True, everything changes with age, but still … The intellect of friends also matters, because a stupid friend can harm worse than hundreds of enemies, Qaboos has already said this. He also noticed that a bad comrade is worse than loneliness. Another famous quote - "…and it's better to be alone than with anyone…" - attributed to Omar Khayyam.
On unanimity
This is a very good word, and it does not mean the standardization of thinking according to some pattern, but a certain unified direction chosen as the main one. Just as during a common prayer in a temple, the aspirations of the parishioners are concentratedly directed towards the Creator, the desires of friends should coincide, at least in their main idea. Many wise sayings about friendship are known, illustrating solidarity, without which spiritual affection is impossible. The German poet Goethe once wrote that like-minded people (it’s still a good word!) Are doomed to reconciliation even after the most seriousquarrels. Democritus even considered unanimity to be the material of which friendship is made. It is objectively difficult to imagine comrades constantly arguing and cursing, but this is inevitable if the disagreements are of a fundamental nature. On the little things, nothing, you can …
Tests and inspections
Real friends are not only found in childhood. This also happens in war, or under other circumstances, when a person’s character is fully revealed, and it is impossible to hide cowardice, greed or dishonesty. It is then that it becomes clear who deserves respect, which, according to Charles Darwin, is an indispensable condition for friendly relations. The great Gogol called partnership through the lips of Taras Bulba the holiest bonds. Friends are known in trouble, says a Russian proverb, and other sayings about true friendship have something in common with it. A brave man is tested in battle, a wise man in anger, and a friend in need, the wise Al-Kharizi believed. Hard to disagree.
Parity
Genius ancient Greek mathematician Pythagoras put an equal sign between friendship and… equality. There are other statements about friendship in which this arithmetic symbol is present. A goose is not a friend to a pig, this is our, domestic formula, denoting the need for some commonality of the social level. But not only material status determines such parity. It is obvious that it is difficult for a poor man to be friends with a rich man. Finally, it's just too expensive. Early orlate he will be sent for beer or asked to perform other tasks, and he will become an ordinary "errand boy". But there is also intellectual inequality, and whatever the merits of a less developed comrade, it will be difficult to communicate with him. Democritus deduced another formula expressing the superiority of friendship with one intelligent person over fellowship with many fools. Claude Helvetius suggested judging a person by his friends. Many other intelligent people expressed this idea in much the same way.
Female Friendship
In terms of sarcasm, statements about female friendship can only be compared with stories about the ability of blondes to drive vehicles. At the same time, their authors are people of both sexes. “Who are you friends against, girls?” - Ranevskaya asked two whispering young actresses. How similar it is to Chekhov's phrase that the commonality of hatred binds people sometimes stronger than love, friendship and respect. But Anton Pavlovich said this not about women, but about all people. And although the fair sex is rarely capable of true friendship, it is also an infrequent phenomenon among men, except for the desire to drink alcohol together and other simple entertainments that do not require special mental effort. So, in general, women are friends in much the same way as their courageous halves, that is, sometimes in no way. When they meet, they spend time talking about mutual acquaintances (more often this is called gossip), drink coffee, tea, sometimes something stronger. Men do the same. calledit is "sit with friends".
The great Leonardo once noticed that in the poultry yard chickens live much friendlier than roosters.
By the way, some women drive quite well. Even blondes.
Sayings about friendship, loy alty and betrayal
Bernard Shaw reminded about the inevitability of settling accounts both in love and in friendship. Ibsen called treachery the most outrageous crime. Mark Twain believed that a true friend is always there, especially if the person is wrong. A well-known comedian once seriously joked that you don't need to have friends, they need to be loved and respected.
Many smart sayings about friendship indicate that enemies cannot betray. Friends betray. But if they are faithful, then they are obliged to wait for an invitation in happiness, and in sorrow to come to the house themselves, Isocrates was sure of this. And this is true, as long as a person is rich, he althy and successful, he is surrounded by those who call themselves his friends. A change in circumstances for the worse dramatically reduces their number, and only those few remain who can really be relied upon. With them, according to F. Bacon, joys are doubled, and sorrows are halved. With them, as the poet Gudzenko wrote, you can swear and sing. With them, you can safely walk on in life.
