培根經典散文閱讀：論友誼

弗朗西斯·培根是英國文藝復興時期最重要的散文家、哲學家。他不但在文學、哲學上多有建樹，在自然科學領域裏，也取得了重大成就。他的第一部重要著作《隨筆》最初發表於1597年，以後又逐年增補。該書文筆言簡意賅、智睿奪目，它包含許多洞察秋毫的經驗之談，其中不僅論及政治而且還探討許多人生哲理。下面本站小編爲大家帶來培根經典散文閱讀，希望大家喜歡!

培根經典散文閱讀：論友誼

It had been hard for him that spake it, to have put more truth and untruth together in few words, than in that speech; Whosoever is delighted in solitude, is either a wild beast, or a god. For it is most true, that a natural and secret hatred, and aversion towards society, in any man, hath somewhat of the savage beast; but it is most untrue, that it should have any character at all of the divine nature; except it proceed, not out of a pleasure in solitude, but out of a love and desire to sequester a man's self, or a higher conversation: such as is found, to have been falsely and feignedly, in some of the heathen; as Epimenides the Candian, Numa the Roman, Empedocles the Sicilian, and Apollonius of Tyana; and truly and really, in divers of the ancient hermits, and holy fathers of the Church.

“喜歡孤獨的人不是野獸便是神靈”。說這話的人若要在寥寥數語之中，更能把真理和邪說放在一處，那就很難了。因爲，若說一個人心裏有了一種天生的，隱祕的，對社會的憎恨嫌棄，則那個人不免帶點野獸底性質，這是極其真實的;然而要說這樣的一個人居然有任何神靈底性質，則是極不真實的。只有一點可爲例外，那就是當這種憎恨社會的心理不是出於對孤獨的愛好而是出於一種想把自己退出社會以求更崇高的生活的心理的時候;這樣的人異教徒中有些人曾冒充過，如克瑞蒂人埃闢曼尼底斯羅馬人努馬西西利人安闢道克利斯和蒂安那人阿波郎尼亞斯是也;而____會中許多的古隱者和長老則確有如此者。

But little do men perceive, what solitude is, and how far it extendeth. For a crowd is not company; and faces are but a gallery of pictures; and talk but a tinkling cymbal, where there is no love.

但是一般人並不大明白何爲孤獨以及孤獨底範圍。因爲在沒有“仁愛”的地方，一羣的人衆並不能算做一個團體，許多的面目也僅僅是一列圖畫;而交談則不過是鐃鈸丁令作聲而已。

The Latin adage meeteth with it a little; magna civitas, magna solitude; because in a great town, friends are scattered; so that there is not that fellowship, for the most part, which is in less neighbourhoods. But we may go further, and affirm most truly; that it is a mean and miserable solitude, to want true friends; without which the world is but a wilderness: and even in this sense also of solitude, whosoever in the frame of his nature and affections is unfit for friendship, he taketh it of the beast, and not from humanity.

這種情形有句拉丁成語略能形容之：“一座大城市就是一片大荒野”;因爲在一座大城市裏朋友們是散居各處的，所以就其大概而言，不象在小一點的城鎮裏，有那樣的交情。但是我們不妨更進一步並且很真實地斷言說，缺乏真正的朋友乃是最純粹最可憐的孤獨;沒有友誼則斯世不過是一片荒野;我們還可以用這個意義來論“孤獨”說，凡是天性不配交友的人其性情可說是來自禽獸而不是來自人類的。

A principal fruit of friendship is the ease and discharge of the fullness and swellings of the heart, which passions of all kinds do cause and induce. We know diseases of stoppings, and suffocations, are the most dangerous in the body; and it is not much otherwise in the mind: you may take sarza to open the liver; steel to open the spleen; flower of sulphur for the lungs; castoreum for the brain; but no receipt openeth the heart, but a true friend, to whom you may impart griefs, joys, fears, hopes, suspicions, counsels, and whatsoever lieth upon the heart, to oppress it, in a kind of civil shrift or confession.

友誼底主要效用之一就在使人心中的憤懣抑鬱之氣得以宣泄弛放，這些不平之氣是各種的情感都可以引起的。閉塞之症於人底身體最爲兇險，這是我們知道的;在人底精神方面亦復如此;你可以服撒爾沙以通肝，服鋼以通脾;服硫華以通肺;服海狸膠以通腦;然而除了一個真心的朋友之外沒有一樣藥劑是可以通心的。對一個真心的朋友你可以傳達你底憂愁、歡悅、恐懼、希望、疑忌、諫諍，以及任何壓在你心上的事情，有如一種教堂以外的懺悔一樣。

It is a strange thing to observe how high a rate great kings and monarchs do set upon this fruit of friendship, whereof we spoke: so great, as they purchase it, many times, at the hazard of their own safety, and greatness. For princes, in regard of the distance of their fortune from that of their subjects and servants, cannot gather this fruit, except (to make themselves capable thereof) they raise some persons, to be as it were companions, and almost equals to themselves, which many times sorteth to inconvenience.

許多偉大的人主帝王對於我們所說的友誼底效用之重視在我們看起來實爲可異。他們之重視友誼，至於往往不顧自己底安全與尊榮以求之。蓋爲人君者，由於他們與臣民之間地位上的距離的原故，是不能享受友誼的——除非他們(爲使自己能享受友誼起見)把某人擢升到他們底伴侶或儕輩底地位，然而這樣做底結果往往是有不便的。

The modem languages give unto such persons, the name of favourites, or privadoes; as if it were matter of grace, or conversation.

象這樣的人現代語叫做“寵臣”或“私人”;好象他們之所以能到這種地位僅僅是由於主上底恩意或君臣之間的親近似的。

But the Roman name attaineth the true use, and cause thereof; naming them participes durarum; for it is that which tieth the knot. And we see plainly that this hath been done, not by weak and passionate princes only, but by the wisest, and most politic that ever reigned; who have oftentimes joined to themselves some of their servants; whom both themselves have called friends, and allowed others likewise to call them in the same manner, using the word which is received between private men.

然而羅馬語中的字眼才能算是把這種人底真正用途及其擢升之由表達出來了;羅馬語把這種人叫做Participescurarum“分憂者”;因爲真能使君臣之間結如斯之友誼者，正即此事也。我們又可以看到象這樣的事情並不限於懦弱易感的君主，即從來最有智有謀的君主，亦往往有與臣下中某人結交，呼之爲友，並使旁人亦以君王之友人稱之者;君臣之間所用的這種稱謂就和普通私人之間所用的一樣。

L. Sulla, when he commanded Rome, raised Pompey (after surnamed the Great) to that height, that Pompey vaunted himself for Sulla's overmatch. For when he had carried the consulship for a friend of his, against the pursuit of Sulla, and that Sulla did a little resent thereat, and began to speak great, Pompey turned upon him again, and in effect bade him be quiet; For that more men adored the sun rising, than the sun setting. With Julius Caesar, Decimus Brutus had obtained that interest, as he set him down in his testament, for heir in remainder, after his nephew.

蘇拉，當他爲羅馬底獨裁者的時候，把龐拜(即後來被人稱爲“偉大的”龐拜者)擢升到很高的地位以至龐拜自詡爲蘇拉所不及。因爲有一次龐拜爲他底一位朋友爭執政官之職，與蘇拉所推舉之人競選，竟而獲勝。在蘇拉對此表示不滿而開始爭吵的時候，龐拜簡直反脣相向，叫他不要多言，“因爲拜朝日的人多過拜夕陽的人”。在愷撒則有代西瑪斯·布魯塔斯，其影響之巨，竟使愷撒在遺囑中立他爲次承繼人，僅次於愷撒底孫外甥。

And this was the man, that had power with him to draw him forth to his death. For when Caesar would have discharged the senate, in regard of some ill presages, and especially a dream of Calpurnia; this man lifted him gently by the arm, out of his chair, telling him, he hoped he would not dismiss the senate, till his wife had dreamt a better dream.

而這人也就是有能力誘致愷撒於死地的人。因爲在愷撒爲了一些不祥的預兆，尤其是克爾坡尼亞底一場噩夢的原故而想使參議院先行散會，改期再開的時候，布魯塔斯拉着他底胳膊，輕輕地把他從椅子上拉了起來，並告訴他說，他希望愷撒不要叫參議院散會，等愷撒底夫人做一場好一點的夢之後再行開會。

And it seemeth, his favour was so great, as Antonius in a letter which is recited verbatim, in one of Cicero's Philippics, callelh him veneftca, witch; as if he had enchanted Caesar. Augustus raised Agrippa (though of mean birth) to that height, as when he consulted with Maecenas about the marriage of his daughter Julia, Maecenas took the liberty to tell him, that he must either marry his daughter to Agrippa, or take away his life; there was no third way, he had made him so great. With Tiberius Caesar, Seianus had ascended to that height, as they two were termed and reckoned, as a pair of friends.

安東尼在一封信裏(這封信在西塞羅底攻擊演說之一中曾經一字不移地引用過)曾呼代西瑪斯·布魯塔斯爲“妖人”，好象他用邪術迷惑了愷撒似的，他底得寵之深可見矣。阿葛瑞帕雖然出身微賤，但是奧古斯塔斯卻把他升到很高的地位，以致後來當奧古斯塔斯以他底女兒玖利亞底婚事問麥西那斯的時候，麥西那斯竟敢說“他必須把女兒嫁給阿葛瑞帕，否則就必須把阿葛瑞帕殺了。再沒有第三條路可走，因爲他把阿葛瑞帕已造就得如此之偉大了”。在泰比瑞亞斯一方面西亞努斯升到很高的位置，竟至他們二人被稱並被認爲一雙朋友。

Tiberius in a letter to him saith; haecpro amicitia nostra non occultavi: and the whole senate dedicated an altar to friendship, as to a goddess, in respect of the great deamess of friendship between them two. The like or more was between Septimius Severus, and Plautianus. For he forced his eldest son to many the daughter of Plaudainus; and would often maintain Plautianus, in doing affronts to his son: and did write also in a letter to the senate, by these words; I love the man so well, as I wish he may over-live me. Now if these princes had been as a Trajan, or a Marcus Aurelius, a man might have thought, that this had proceeded of an abundant goodness of nature; but being men so wise, of such strength and severity of mind,

and so extreme lovers of themselves, as all these were; it proveth most plainly, that they found their own felicity (though as great as ever happened to mortal men) but as an half piece, except they mought have a friend to make it entire: and yet, which is more, they were princes that had wives, sons, nephews; and yet all these could not supply the comfort of friendship.

泰比瑞亞斯在致西亞努斯的一封信裏寫道：“爲了我們底友誼的原故，我沒有把這些事對你隱瞞”，並且整個的參議院給“友誼”特造了一座祭壇(就好象“友誼”是一位女神一樣)以表揚他們二人之間的很親愛的友誼。此類或勝乎此的例子又可於塞普諦米亞斯·塞委?斯與普勞梯亞努斯底友誼中見之。因爲塞委拉斯?a href="">骨科人錐尤⑵綻吞菅橋怪?並且往往袒護普勞梯亞努斯種種欺凌皇子的行爲;他並且以這樣的言辭下詔於參議院：“朕愛其人如此之深，願其能後朕而死也”。假如這些君王是圖拉真或馬喀斯·奧瑞利亞斯一流的，那末我們可以認爲象上述的舉動乃是出自十分良善的心田的;但是這些君王都是很有智謀，精神強健而嚴厲，並且是極端愛己的，然而他們竟然如此，這就可以證明他們底幸福雖然已達人間之極峯，但是他們對之，仍不滿意，覺得若無朋友使之圓滿，則這種幸福終是殘缺不全也。猶有甚者，這些君主都是有妻有子有甥侄的人，然而這些人竟不能使他們有朋友之樂。

It is not to be forgotten, what Commineus observeth of his first master Duke Charles the Hardy; namely, mat he would communicate his secrets with none; and least of all, those secrets, which troubled him most Whereupon he goeth on, and saith, that towards his latter time that closeness did impair and a little perish his understanding.

康明奈亞斯關於他底第一位主上，公爵“勇敢的”查理，所說的話是不可忘的，就是，他不肯把他底祕密與任何人共之，尤其不肯把那最使他爲難的祕密告人。於是康明奈亞斯繼續又說道：“到公爵底末日將近的時候這種祕而不宣的性情不免稍損他底理智”。

Surely Commineus mought have made the same judgement also, if it had pleased him, of his second master Lewis the Eleventh, whose closeness was indeed his tormentor.

其實，如果康明奈亞斯樂意的話，他對於他底第二位主上，路易十一，也大可下同樣的斷語，因爲路易十一底好隱祕確是他自己底災星。

The parable of Pythagoras is dark, but true; cor ne edito; eat not the heart. Certainly, if a man would give it a hard phrase. Those that want friends to open themselves unto, are cannibals of their own hearts. But one thing is most admirable (wherewith I will conclude this first fruit of friendship), which is that this communicating of a man's self to his friend works two contrary effects; for it redoubleth joys, and cutteth griefs in halves. For there is no man, that imparteth his joys to his friend, but he joyeth the more; and no man, that imparteth his griefs to his friend, but he grieveth the less. So that it is, in truth of operation upon a man's mind, of like virtue, as the alchemists use to attribute to their stone, for man's body; that it worketh all contrary effects, but still to the good and benefit of nature. But yet, without praying in aid of alchemists, there is a manifest image of this, in the ordinary course of nature. For in bodies, union strengtheneth and cherisheth any natural action; and, on the other side, weakeneth and dulleth any violent impression: and even so is it of minds.

畢達哥拉斯底格言是難解而真確的;他說，“不要吃你底心”。確實地;說得厲害一點，沒有朋友可以向之傾訴心事的人們可說是吃自己底心的野人。有一件事卻是很值得驚奇的(我把它說了出來就此結束關於友誼底第一種功效的話語)，那就是，一個人向朋友宣泄私情的這件事能產生兩種相反的結果，它既能使歡樂倍增，又能使憂愁減半。因爲沒有人不因爲把自己底樂事告訴了朋友而更爲歡欣者;也沒有人因爲把自己底憂愁告訴了朋友而不減憂愁者。所以就實際的作用而言，友誼之於人心其價值真有如煉金術士常常所說的他們底寶石之於人身一樣;這寶石，依術士們底話，是能產生種種互相反對的效力，然而總是有利於天稟的。然而，即令不借助於術士，在普通的自然現象中，也可以看到這種情形很明顯的肖象。因爲物體相合則足以助長並滋養任何天然的作用，又可以削弱並挫折任何暴烈的外來打擊也：物體如此，人心亦是如此。

The second fruit of friendship is healthful and sovereign for the understanding as the first is for the affections. For frendship maketh indeed a fair day in the affections from storm and tempests: but it maketh daylight in the understanding, out of darkness and confusion of thoughts. Neither is this to be understood, only of faithful counsel, which a man receiveth from his friend; but before you come to that, certain it is, that whosoever hath his mind fraught with many thoughts, his wits and understanding do clarify and break up, in the communicating and discoursing with another: he tosseth his thoughts more easily; he marshalled them more orderly; he seeth how they look when they are turned into words; finally, he waxeth wiser than

himself; and that more by an hour's discourse, then by a day's meditation. It was well said by Themistocles to the king of Persia;that speech was like cloth of Arras, opened, and put abroad; whereby the imagery doth appear in figure; whereas in thoughts they lie but as in packs. Neither is this second fruit of friendship, in opening the understanding, restrained only to such friends as are able to give a man counsel: (they indeed are best) but even, without that, a man learneth of himself, and bringeth his own thoughts to light, and whetteth his wits as against a stone, which itself cuts not. In a word, a man were better relate himself to a statue, or picture, then to suffer his thoughts to pass in smother.

友誼底第二種功用就在它能衛養並支配理智，有如第一種功用之衛養並支配感情一樣。因爲友誼在感情方面使人出於烈風暴雨而入於光天化日，而在理智方面又能使人從黑暗和亂想入於白晝也。這不僅指一個人從朋友處得來的忠諫而言;即在得到這個之前，任何心中思慮過多的人，若能與旁人通言並討論，則他底心智與理解力將變爲清朗而有別;他底思想底動作將更爲靈活;其排列將更有秩序;他可以看出來把這些思想變成言語的時候它們是什麼模樣;他終於變得比以往的他聰明，而要達到這種情形，一小時底談話比一天底沉思爲效更巨——這些都是沒有疑義的。塞密斯陶克立斯對波斯王的話說得極是。他說：“言語有如張掛展覽的花氈，其中的圖形都是顯明的;而思想則有如卷折起來的花氈”。友誼底這第二種功用(就是啓發理智)，也不限於那些能進忠言的朋友(他們當然是最好的朋友了)，即令沒有這樣的朋友，一個人也能借言談底力量自己增長知識，把自己底思想使之明白表現，並且把自己底機智磨厲得更爲鋒利，如磨刃於石，刃銳而石固不能割也。簡言之，一個人，與其使他底思想窒息而滅，毋寧向雕像或圖畫傾訴一切之爲愈也。

Add now, to make this second fruit of friendship complete, that other point, which lieth more open, and falleth within vulgar observation; which is faithful counsel from a friend. Heraclitus saith well, in one of his enigmas; dry light is ever the best And certain it is, that the light that a man receiveth by counsel from another, is drier, and purer, than that which cometh from his own understanding, and judgement; which is ever infused and drenched in his affections and customs. So as, there is as much difference, between the counsel that a friend giveth and that a man giveth himself, as there is between the counsel of a friend and of a flatterer.

現在，爲充分說明友誼底這第二種功用起見，我們再一談那個顯而易見，流俗之人也可以注意到的那一點，就是朋友底忠言。赫拉克里塔斯在他底隱語之一中說得很好，“幹光永遠最佳”。一個人從另一個人底諍言中所得來的光明比從他自己底理解力，判斷力中所出的光明更是乾淨純粹，這是無疑的：一個人從自己底理解力與判斷力中得來的那種光明總不免是受他底感情和習慣底浸潤影響的。因此，在朋友所給的諍言與自己所作的主張之間其差別有如良友底諍言與諂佞底建議之間的差別一樣。

For there is no such flatterer as is a man's self, and there is no such remedy, against flattery of a man's self, as the liberty of a friend. Counsel is of two sorts; the one concerning manners, the other concerning business. For the first; the best preservative to keep the mind in health, is the faithful admonition of a friend. The calling of a man's self to a strict account, is a medicine, sometime, too piercing and corrosive. Reading good books of morality is a lime flat, and dead. Observing our faults in others is sometimes improper for our case. But the best receipt (best, I say, to work, and best to take) is the admonition of a friend. It is a strange thing to behold, what gross errors, and extreme absurdities, many (especially of the greater sort) do commit, for want of a friend, to tell them of them; to the great damage, both of their fame, and fortune. For, as St James saith, they are as men, that look sometimes into a glass, and presently forget their own shape, and favour. As for business, a man may think, if he will, that two eyes see no more than one; or that a gamester seeth always more than a looker on; or that a man in anger is as wise as he, that hath said over the four and twenty letters; or that a musket may be shot off, as well upon the arm, as upon a rest; and such other fond and high imaginations, to think himself all in all.

因爲諂諛我者無過於我;而防禦自諂自諛之術更無有能及朋友之直言者也。諍言共有兩種：一是關於行爲的，一是關於事業。說到第一種，最能保人心神之健康的預防藥就是朋友底忠言規諫。一個人底嚴厲自責是一種有時過於猛烈，蝕力過強的藥品。讀勸善的好書不免沈悶無味。在別人身上觀察自己底錯誤有時與自己底情形不符。最好的藥方(最有效並且最易服用的)就是朋友底勸諫。許多人(尤其是偉大的人們)因爲沒有朋友向他們進忠告的原故，做出大謬極誤的事來，以致他們底名聲和境遇均大受損失，這種情形看起來是很可驚異的。這些人是，有如聖雅各所說，“有時看看鏡子，而不久就會忘了自己底形貌的”。講到事業方面，一個人也許以爲兩隻眼所見的並不多於一隻眼所見的;或者以爲局中人之所見總較旁觀者之所見爲多;或者以爲一個在發怒中的人和一個默數過二十四個字母的人一般地聰明;或者以爲一枝舊式毛瑟槍，託在臂上放和託在架上放一樣地得力;他可以有許多類此的愚蠢驕傲的妄想，以爲自己一身就很夠了。

But when all is done, the help of good counsel is that which setteth business straight.

然而能使事業趨於正軌者還數忠言。

And if any man think that he will take counsel, but it shall be by pieces; asking counsel in one business of one man, and in another business of another man; it is well (that is to say, better perhaps than if he asked none at all); but he runneth two dangers: one, that he shall not be faithfully counselled; for it is a rare thing, except it be from a perfect and entire friend, to have counsel given, but such as shall be bowed and crooked to some ends, which he hath that giveth it The other, that he shall have counsel given, hurtful, and unsafe (though with good meaning), and mixed, partly of mischief, and partly of remedy: even as if you would call a physician, that is thought good, for the cure of the disease you complain of, but is unacquainted with your body; and therefore, may put you in way for a present cure, but overthroweth your health in some other kind;and so cure the disease, and kill the patient But a friend that is wholly acquainted with a man's estate, will beware by furthering any present business, how he dasheth upon other inconvenience.

又，假如有人想採納別人底忠告，而願意零碎採納，在某一件事上問某一人，在另一件事上問另一人，這樣的辦法也好(這就是說，總比他全不問人的或者好一點);可是他冒着兩種危險;一是他將得不到忠實的進言;因爲所進的言論必須是來自一位完全誠心的朋友的纔好，否則鮮有不被歪屈而傾向於進言人之私利者也。另一種危險是他所得的進言，將爲一種有害而不安全的言論(雖然用意是好的)一半是招致禍患的而一半是救濟或預防禍患的;有如你生病請醫，而這位醫生是雖被認爲善治你所患的病症，卻是不熟悉你底體質的;因此他也許會使你目前的疾病可以痊癒而將危害你健康的另一方面;結果是治了病症而殺了病人。一個完全通曉你底事業境遇的朋友則不然，他將小心注意，以免因爲推進你目前的某種事業而使你在別的方面突受打擊。

And therefore, rest not upon scattered counsel; they will rather distract, and mislead, than seme, and direct After these two noble fruits of frendship (peace in the affections and support of the judgement) followeth the last fruit; which is like the pomegranate full of many kernels; I mean aid and bearing a part in all actions and occasions. Here, the best way to represent to life the manifold use of frendship is to cast and see, how many things there are, which a man cannot do himself; and then it will appear, that it was a sparing speech of the ancients, to say that a friend is another himself: for that a friend is far more than himself.

所以最好不要依靠零零碎碎的忠告;它們擾亂和誤引底可能多於安定和指導底可能也。在友誼底這兩種高貴的功效(心情上的平和與理智上的扶助)之後還有那最末的一種功效：這種功效有如石榴之多核。這句話的意思就是朋友對於一個人底各種行爲，各種需要，都有所幫助，有所參加也。在這一點上，若要把友誼底多種用途很顯明生動地表現出來，最好的方法是計算一下，看看一個人有多少事情是不能靠自己去辦理的：這樣計算一下之後，我們就以看得出古人所謂“朋友者另一己身也”的那句話是一句與事實相較還很不夠的話;因爲一個朋友比較一個人底己身用處還要大得多。

Men have their time, and die many times in desire of some things, which they principally take to heart; the bestowing of a child, the finishing of a work, or the like. If a man have a true friend, he may rest almost secure, that the care of those things will continue after him. So that a man hath as it were two lives in his desires.

人底生命有限，有許多人在沒有達到最大的心願——如子女底婚事，工作之完成，等——之前就死了。要是一個人有了一位真心的朋友，那末他就大可安心，知道這些事件在他死後還是有人照料的。如此，一個人在完成心願上簡直是有兩條性命了。

A man hath a body, and that body is confined to a place; but where friendship is, all offices of life are as it were granted to him, and his deputy. For he may exercise them by his friend. How many things are there, which a man cannot, with any face or comeliness, say or do himself? A man can scarce allege his own merits with modesty, less extol them: a man cannot sometimes brook to supplicate or beg: and a number of the like. But all these things, are graceful in a friend's mouth, which are blushing in a man's own. So again, a man's person hath many proper relations, which he cannot put off. A man cannot speak to his son, but as a father, to his wife, but as a husband; to his enemy, but upon terms: whereas a friend may speak, as the case requires, and not as it sorteth with the person. But to enumerate these things were endless: I have given the rule, where a man cannot fitly play his own part: if he have not a friend, he may quit the stage.

一個人有一個身體，而這個身體是限於一個地方的但是假如他有朋友，那末所有的人生大事都可算是有人辦理了。就是他自己不能去的地方，他底朋友也可以代表他的。還有，有多少事是一個人爲了顏面底關係，不能自己說或辦的!一個人不能自承有功而免矜誇之嫌更不用說是不能表揚自己底功績了;有時也不能低首下心地去有所懇求;諸如此類的事很多。但是這一切的事，在一個人自己底嘴裏說出來未免赧顏的，在朋友嘴裏說出來卻是很好。類此，一個人還有許多身分上的關，是他不能棄置不顧的。例如，一個人對兒子講話，就不能不保持父親底身分;對妻子講話就不能不保持丈夫底身分;對仇敵講話就不能不顧慮自己底體面：但是一個朋友卻可以就事論事，而不必顧慮到人底方面。這一類的事情要一一列舉出來是說不完的;要之，一個人若是有某種事自己不能很得體地去做時，我對他有一條規則可說，就是，他如果沒有朋友的話，那末他只有“下臺”之一法。

　相關閱讀：有關友誼小故事

馬克思和恩格斯

馬克思和恩格斯的友誼是人類友誼的典範。從1842年馬克思和恩格斯第一次會晤起，40年裏，他們在領導國際共產主義運動的偉大斗爭中，團結作戰，患難與共，建立了真摯的友誼。由於革命鬥爭需要，他們曾身處兩地近20年，但他們之間的關係不僅沒有因此而疏遠，反而聯繫越來越密切。他們幾乎每天都要通信，交談各種政治事件和科學理論問題，共同指導着各國的無產階級革命運動。馬克思不僅十分欽佩恩格斯的淵博學識和高尚人格，而且對恩格斯的身體也很關心。有一個時期，恩格斯生病，馬克思時時掛在心上，他在給恩格斯的信中說：“我關切你的身體健康，如同自己患病一樣，也許還要厲害些。”恩格斯爲了“保存最優秀的思想家”，在經濟上資助貧困的馬克思，使其能專心致力於革命理論的研究，他違背自己本來的意願，到父親經營的公司中去從事那“鬼商業”的工作。當《資本論》第一卷付印的時候，馬克思給恩格斯寫信說：“其所以能夠如此，我只有感謝你!沒有你爲我的犧牲，我是決不可能完成三卷書的巨大工作的。我滿懷感激的心情擁抱你。”恩格斯儘管做出了巨大犧牲，但他始終認爲，能夠同馬克思並肩戰鬥40年，是一生中最大的幸福。馬克思與恩格斯之間的這種崇高的革命友誼，正如列寧所讚揚的，它“超過了古人關於友誼的一切最動人的傳說”。