Source identified
Read & copy the quotation
“Regard friendship as the greatest thing in the world; for there is nothing which so fits in with our nature, or is so exactly what we want in prosperity or adversity.”
- Source
- Laelius on Friendship
- Date
- 44 BCE
- Local voice
- Dialogue speaker · Gaius Laelius
- English wording
- Evelyn S. Shuckburgh — Translator · from Latin
Meaning of “Regard friendship as the greatest thing in the…”
Cicero presents friendship as suited to human nature because it serves both celebration and hardship rather than belonging to only one circumstance.
Where does it come from?
Laelius on Friendship; Laelius frames friendship as useful and natural in both good and difficult times.
Why the local voice matters
Laelius on Friendship / De Amicitia. Cicero’s framing explicitly places the friendship discourse in Laelius’ mouth.
