I abhor a fellow who servilely complies with whatsoever I propose, and
keeps pace with me in all my motions,—my shadow can do that better than
yourself,—but my friend must deal plainly and impartially, and assist
me faithfully with his judgment. And thus you see one way of discerning
a flatterer from a friend.
9. Another difference observable betwixt them in the resemblance they
bear to each other is, that a true friend will not rashly commend
nor imitate every thing, but only what really deserves it; for, as
Sophocles says,