'Foremost among the soul's affections is love. Love is
the ruler of every motion of the heart; drawing all to itself, and
making us like to that we love. Beware, then, my daughter, of harbouring
any evil affection, or you too will become evil. And friendship is the
most dangerous of all affections, because any other love may exist
without much mental communication, but as friendship is founded thereon,
it is hardly possible to be closely bound by its ties to any one
without sharing in his qualities.
Whatever is founded on mere
sensuality, vanity, or frivolity, is unworthy to be called friendship. I
mean such attractions as are purely external; a sweet voice, personal
beauty, and the cleverness or outward show which have great weight with
some. You will often hear women and young people unhesitatingly decide
that such an one is very delightful, very admirable, because he is
good-looking, well-dressed, sings, or dances, or talks well. Even
charlatans esteem the wittiest clown amongst them as their best man. But
all these things are purely sensual, and the connections built on such
foundation must be vain and frivolous, more fitly to be called trifling
than friendship. They spring up chiefly among young people, who are
easily fascinated by personal attractions, dress, and gossip -
friendships in which the tailor and hairdresser have the chief part. How
can such friendships be other than shortlived, melting away like snow
wreaths in the sun!'
St. Francis de Sales
James 4:4
Adulterers, know you not that the
friendship of this world is the enemy of God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of this world, becometh an enemy of God.
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