“Such friendship at once enhances the lustre of prosperity, and by dividing and sharing adversity lessens its burden.”
- Source
- De Amicitia
- Date
- 44 BCE
- Attribution
- Source identified
- Voice / speaker
- Dialogue speaker · Gaius Laelius
What does this quote mean?
A good friend does not matter only in crisis: companionship can enlarge good fortune while also making hardship easier to carry because difficulty is no longer borne alone.
Where does it come from?
De Amicitia, section 6–7 transition, Project Gutenberg #7491. Cicero contrasts true and perfect friendship with merely moderate association and emphasizes its usefulness in both prosperity and adversity.
Who voices the line?
Dialogue speaker · Gaius Laelius. De Amicitia. The line belongs to Laelius’ discussion of the benefits and nature of friendship.
The source author and the local speaker can be different, especially in fiction, drama, dialogue and poetry.
How should this attribution be read?
This wording is connected with the named source shown above. Translations and editions can vary, so consult the source note when exact wording matters.