"...A true Friend unbosoms freely, advices
justly, assists readily, adventures boldly, takes all patiently, defends
couragiously, and continues a Friend unchangeably...These being Qualities of a
Friend, we are to find them before we chuse one...The Covetous, the Angry, the
Proud, the Jealous, the Talkative, cannot but make ill Friends, as well as
False...In short, chuse a Friend as thou dost a Wife, till Death separate
you...Yet be not a Friend beyond the Altar: But let Virtue bound thy Friendship:
Else it is not Friendship, but an Evil Confederacy...If my Brother or Kinsman
will be my Friend, I ought to prefer him before a Stranger, or I shew little
Duty or Nature to my Parents...And as we ought to prefer our Kindred i Point of
Affection, so too in Point of Charity, if equally needing and
deserving..." (William Penn, Some Fruits Of Solitude, p.g. 23-24, ed
F.U.P.).
