Meis Amicis

Nihil cum amicitia possum comparare; di hominibus nihil melius dant. Pecuniam alii malunt; alii, corpora sana; alii, famam gloriamque; alii, voluptates – sed hi viri nimium errant, quoniam illa sunt incerta et ex fortuna veniunt, non ex sapientia. Amicitia enim ex sapientia et amore et moribus bonis et virtute venit; sine virtute amicitia non potest esse. Si nullos amicos habes, habes vitam tyranni; si invenies amicum verum, vita tua erit beata. - Cicero, De Amicitia, excerpts.

I am able to compare nothing with friendship; the gods give to men nothing better. Some prefer money; others healthy bodies; some fame and glory; others pleasures – but these men err excessively, since those things are uncertain and come from fortune, not from wisdom. Truly friendship comes from wisdom and love and good morals and virtue; without virtue friendship is not able to be. If you have no friends, you have the life a tyrant; if you will find a true friend, your life will be blessed.