some friendships are based on uility and some on pleasure. some people are our friends becos they are useful to us, others becos their company brings us pleasure. perfect friendship: a desire to bring good to the other becos one loves that person, and not for any expectation of return. one no longer keeps accounts of the exchanges back and forth, no longer cares who owes a favour, who gave the larger gift. advantage of this sort are forgotten. "in friendship based on goodness there are no complaints, for the measure of the benefit seems to be the intention of the giver" perfect friends have acheived that state where it is truly more blessed to give than to receive; consequently in such friendships no complaints are heard about not receiveing enough.

adapted from a book i read..