The working definition I have of ‘friend’ is modified from Frank Herbert, it is “One in whose company you would be proud die.”  With this definition in mind, I’d say that I have a very select few friends, but many with whom I’m amicable.  As I get older, I seem to have become more selective of those whose company I keep.

I seem to have lost more friends in the past five years than I have made.

It seems to be the philosopher’s task to balance the roles of friend, teacher, student, family member, citizen, and social body.  We have some obligation to others, that seems to be undisputed, but how far they extend and to what extent we must oblige them seems to be different, however.

I suppose I will take it as some small conciliation that my diminishing circle of friends is not at odds with the thoughts of the School.

Yet, it seems to me to maybe be a bit sad that the life of the philosopher might also be a lonely one.

With those thoughts in mind, I bid you farewell.

Part of Michel Daw’s Reading Plan of Seneca’s Letters.