“A friend is an investigator upon the slide of whose microscope we live, move and have our being”.
The Devil’s Dictionary by Ambrose Bierce
I’ll start by saying that friendship is an essential part of a person’s life. In a sense, friends can be considered soulmates as we choose them in accord with certain criteria. We probably do not realize that such a list of criteria exists, but we subliminally consult it while choosing friends. As a result, only those who “match” us (in accord with that list) become really close.
In my opinion, every person has their own definition of friendship and, therefore, qualities of a real friendship may differ from person to person. Yet, there are four qualities which can be considered common since they are paramount. I believe that the first feature on the list is acceptance. By acceptance I mean taking a person for what they are with all their virtues and shortcomings. It is extremely important for a person to be loved and appreciated as such. If you feel the need to alter something in your friend, it is a sign they do not match some criterion on your list and, consequently, you have little chances to become true friends. Secondly, mutual trust is crucial for a friendship. Friends are people who share the most intimate things with each other. In case there is no trust, it is impossible to open your secrets to another person. Also, a good talk helps you to understand yourself better. So, maybe it is not what your friend will tell you in response to your speech, but it is the fact that you can say it out loud that helps you. In his definition, Ambrose Bierce found a very good way to show that true friends know everything about each other, that’s why I am using it to support the second quality. The third quality is closely connected with the previous one, since very often people are apt to judging others after hearing some kind of revelation from them. A true friend will never judge you. The best a friend can do is to express their opinion on the topic and say what they would do in such situation. Finally, the last but not the least quality of a good friend is their readiness to be there for you. As the well-known saying goes: a friend in need is a friend indeed. If your friendship has been tested by hard times and you’re still friends, then your friendship is precious. Undoubtedly, anyone can be there for you in good times, but supporting a friend in sorrow is the sign of a true dedication.
In conclusion, I would like to highlight the importance of friends once more. They provide psychological comfort, teach you something and share the major as well as the minor events of your life. Thus, it is really necessary to find a person who will be able to become your true friend.
Works cited
Bierce, Ambrose. “The Devil’s Dictionary”. Web. Accessed January 28, 2016 at
http://www.thedevilsdictionary.com/?f=#!
