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OF FRIENDSHIP
117
XXVII. Of Friendship.
It had been hard for him that spake it to have put more truth and untruth together in few words, than in that speech, Whosoever is delighted in solitude is either a wild beast or a god.[1] For it is most true that a natural and secret hatred and aversation[2] towards society in any man, hath somewhat of the savage beast; but it is most untrue that it should have any character at all of the divine nature; except[3] it proceed, not out of a pleasure in solitude, but out of a love and desire to sequester a man's self for a higher conversation:[4] such as is found to have been falsely and feignedly in some of the heathen; as Epimenides[5] the Candian, Numa[6] the Roman, Empedocles[7] the Sicilian, and Apollonius
- ↑ "But he who is unable to live in society, or who has no need because he is sufficient for himself, must be either a beast or a god: he is no part of a state." The Politics of Aristotle. Translated into English by B. Jowett. Vol. I. i. 2.
- ↑ Aversation towards. Aversion to.
- ↑ Except. Unless. "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God." John iii. 3.
- ↑ Conversation. Mode or course of life. "Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom." James iii. 13.
- ↑ Epimenides, a Cretan poet and prophet, who lived in the 7th century B.C. He was said to have fallen into a sleep that lasted fifty-seven years, and to have lived two hundred and ninety-nine years.
- ↑ Numa Pompilius, second King of Rome, 715–672 B.C. The origin of many Roman institutions is referred to Numa, such as the flamens, vestal virgins, pontifices, etc. He was supposed to have been instructed in the art of legislation by the nymph Egeria.
- ↑ Empedocles was born at Agrigentum, Sicily, and lived 490–430 B.C. He was a Greek philosopher, poet, and statesman. He was said to have declared himself to be immortal, and to be able to cure all evils.
