Aristotle, Rhetoric
J. H. Freese, Ed.

[15] those who are neat in their personal appearance and dress, and clean-living; [16] those who do not make our errors or the benefits they have conferred a matter of reproach, for both these are inclined to be censorious; [17] those who bear no malice and do not cherish the memory of their wrongs, but are easily appeased; for we think that they will be to ourselves such as we suppose them to be to others; [18] and those who are neither given to slander, or eager to know the faults of their neighbors nor our own, but only the good qualities; [19] for this is the way in which the good man acts. And those who do not oppose us when we are angry or occupied, for such persons are pugnacious; and those who show any good feeling towards us; for instance, if they admire us, think us good men, and take pleasure in our company, [20] especially those who are so disposed towards us in regard to things for which we particularly desire to be either admired or to be thought worthy or agreeable. [21] And we like those who resemble us and have the same tastes, provided their interests do not clash with ours and that they do not gain their living in the same way; for then it becomes a case of “ Potter [being jealous] of potter.¹

” [22] And those who desire the same things, provided it is possible for us to share them; otherwise the same thing would happen again. [23] And those with whom we are on such terms that we do not blush before them for faults merely condemned by
public opinion, provided that this is not due to contempt; [24] and those before whom we do blush for faults that are really bad. And those whose rivals we are,² or by whom we wish to be emulated, but not envied,—these we either like or wish to be friends with them. [25] And those whom we are ready to assist in obtaining what is good, provided greater evil does not result for ourselves. [26] And those who show equal fondness for friends, whether absent or present; wherefore all men like those who show such feeling for the dead.

In a word, men like those who are strongly attached to their friends and do not leave them in the lurch; for among good men they chiefly like those who are good friends. [27] And those who do not dissemble with them; such are those who do not fear to mention even their faults. （For, as we have said, before friends we do not blush for faults merely condemned by public opinion; if then he who blushes for such faults is not a friend, he who does not is likely to be one）.³ And men like those who are not formidable, and in whom they have confidence; for no one likes one whom he fears. [28] Companionship, intimacy, kinship, and similar relations are species of friendship. Things that create friendship are doing a favor, [29] and doing it unasked, and not making it public after doing it; for then it seems to have been rendered for the sake of the friend, and not for any other reason.