於是一個青年說，請給我們談友誼。
他回答說：
你的朋友是你的有回答的需求。
他是你用愛播種，用感謝收穫的田地。
他是你的飲食，也是你的火爐。
因為你飢渴地奔向他，你向他尋求平安。
當你的朋友向你傾吐胸臆的時候，你不要怕說出心中的「否」，也不要瞞住你心中的「可」。
當他靜默的時候，你的心仍要傾聽他的心；
因為在友誼裡，不用言語，一切的思想，一切的願望，一切的希冀，都在無聲的歡樂中發生而共享了。
當你與朋友別離的時候，不要憂傷；
因為你感到他的最可愛之點，當他不在時愈見清晰，正如登山者從平原上望山峰，也加倍地分明。
願除了尋求心靈的加深之外，友誼沒有別的目的。
因為那只尋求著要洩露自身的神秘的愛，不算是愛，只算是一個撒下的網，只網住一些無益的東西。
讓你的最美好的事物，都給你的朋友。
假如他必須知道你潮水的退落，也讓他知道你潮水的高漲。
你找他只為消磨光陰的人，還能算是你的朋友麼？
你要在生長的時間中去找他。
因為他的時間是滿足你的需要，不是填滿你的空腹。
在友誼的溫柔中，要有歡笑和共同的歡樂。
因為在那微末事物的甘露中，你的心能找到他的清曉而煥發了精神。
19
On Friendship
And a youth said, "Speak to us of Friendship."
Your friend is your needs answered.
He is your field which you sow with love and reap with thanksgiving.
And he is your board and your fireside.
For you come to him with your hunger, and you seek him for peace.
When your friend speaks his mind you fear not the "nay" in your own mind, nor do you withhold the "ay."
And when he is silent your heart ceases not to listen to his heart;
For without words, in friendship, all thoughts, all desires, all expectations are born and shared, with joy that is unacclaimed.
When you part from your friend, you grieve not;
For that which you love most in him may be clearer in his absence, as the mountain to the climber is clearer from the plain.
And let there be no purpose in friendship save the deepening of the spirit.
For love that seeks aught but the disclosure of its own mystery is not love but a net cast forth: and only the unprofitable is caught.
And let your best be for your friend.
If he must know the ebb of your tide, let him know its flood also.
For what is your friend that you should seek him with hours to kill?
Seek him always with hours to live.
For it is his to fill your need, but not your emptiness.
And in the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures.
For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed.
