Summary and Analysis
Book IV:
Chapter VI - Friendliness
Summary
Friendliness is the mean in human relations, which includes all dealings with our fellow men — recreational, business, political, etc. The excessive extreme is obsequiousness, the deficient extreme is grouchiness. This virtue differs from friendship in that it does not require emotion or affection for those with whom one is associated. The friendly man acts toward other people in terms appropriate to their relationship; he tolerates or does not tolerate the right things in the right manner, he avoids giving pain whenever possible, and always tries to do what is beneficial and noble.