Pagina 556 de 734

But with these theories facts are at variance, and not

unnaturally: for it is commonly said also that a man is to love

most him who is most his friend, and he is most a friend who

wishes good to him to whom he wishes it for that man's sake even

though no one knows. Now these conditions, and in fact all the

rest by which a friend is characterised, belong specially to each

individual in respect of his Self: for we have said before that

all the friendly feelings are derived to others from those which

have Self primarily for their object. And all the current

proverbs support this view; for instance, "one soul," "the goods

of friends are common," "equality is a tie of Friendship," "the

knee is nearer than the shin." For all these things exist

specially with reference to a man's own Self: he is specially a

friend to himself and so he is bound to love himself the most.