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Men in power are often seen to make use of several distinct

friends: for some are useful to them and others pleasurable, but

the two are not often united: because they do not, in fact, seek

such as shall combine pleasantness and goodness, nor such as

shall be useful for honourable purposes: but with a view to

attain what is pleasant they look out for men of easy-pleasantry;

and again, for men who are clever at executing any business put

into their hands: and these qualifications are not commonly found

united in the same man.

It has been already stated that the good man unites the qualities

of pleasantness and usefulness: but then such a one will not be a

friend to a superior unless he be also his superior in goodness:

for if this be not the case, he cannot, being surpassed in one

point, make things equal by a proportionate degree of

Friendship.[5] And characters who unite superiority of station

and goodness are not common.

Chapter VIII.