Friendship can only exist between individuals who are good.
By ‘good’ Cicero meant: “those whose actions and lives leave no question as to their honour, purity, equity, and liberality; who are free from greed, lust, and violence; and who have the courage of their convictions.”
Proximity or nearness is a critical component of the natural order which strengthens the bond between people.
Cicero defined friendship as “a complete accord on all subjects human and divine, joined with mutual goodwill and affection.”
“The Latin word for friendship—amicitia—is derived from that for love—amor…”
Friendship has a moral component.
Friends ought never ask or consent to to do what is wrong, and “...we should ask from friends, and do for friends, only what is good.”
Key qualities of friendship include firmness, stability, constancy, and loyalty.
A friend is one who prefers the advancement of the other to their own.
Cicero, an influential Roman statesman, orator, and philosopher, played a pivotal role in the politics of the late Roman Republic. Born in 106 BCE, he rose to prominence through his exceptional skills in rhetoric and law, which earned him a reputation as one of Rome's greatest speakers. Cicero's contributions to Roman politics included his staunch defense of the Republic's traditional values and his opposition to the rise of dictatorial powers, notably against figures like Julius Caesar. He was also a prolific writer, producing extensive works on philosophy, politics, and ethics that have significantly influenced Western thought. Despite his eventual execution in 43 BCE during the proscriptions of the Second Triumvirate, Cicero's legacy endures through his writings and his profound impact on the development of republican ideals and the art of public speaking.
This unofficial political alliance was formed in 60 BCE to advance the personal ambitions of its members and to dominate Roman politics by combining their resources and influence.