_Friendship_ is a Divine Excellency, wrapt up in a Common Name, and
nothing less then the uttermost Perfection of Flesh and Blood, for Wisdom
and Virtue, can Entitle a Man to the Character of a _True Friend_; though
Custom, I know, has so far Prevail’d for a Promiscuous Application of the
Word to Common Acquaintances and Relations, that it passes in the World,
by a certain kind of Figure, for _Civility_ and _Respect_. But _Socrates_
all this while did very well Understand what he said, touching the Rarity
and Paucity of Friends; and he might have added, that it is as hard a
matter to Understand how to _Be_ a Friend, as to know where to _Find_ One.