previous next who continue friends and whose friendship is
lasting. [5]  Also it is by rendering affection in proportion to
desert that friends who are not equals may approach most nearly
to true friendship, since this will make them equal. Amity
consists in equality and similarity, especially the similarity
of those who are alike in virtue; for being true to themselves,
these also remain true to one another, and neither request nor
render services that are morally degrading. Indeed they may be
said actually to restrain each other from evil: since good men
neither err themselves nor permit their friends to err. Bad men
on the other hand have no constancy in friendship, for they do
not even remain true to their own characters; but they can be
friends for a short time, while they take pleasure in each
other's wickedness. [6] The friendships of useful and pleasant
people last longer, in fact as long as they give each other
pleasure or benefit. It is friendship based on utility that
seems most frequently to sprin