158．善用朋友

善用朋友。这需要所有的判别技巧。有的朋友适合远交，有的朋友适合近处。有的朋友不善言辞，却可以成为很好的笔友。所谓距离产生美，距离能让人忽略一些亲近之时无法忍受的缺点。交友更要注重实效，而非只为享乐。因为正如一些人所言，朋友通常有着世间一切美好事物所共有的三大品质：和谐、诚实、善良。朋友是一切的一切。称得上好朋友的并不多，如果不善选择，好朋友就更加难求。珍惜老友比结交新知更重要。你所选择的应是那些能与你长久交往的朋友，如果起初的新朋友，将来变成老朋友，这也算是些许安慰。最好的朋友绝对是那些经年累月者，尽管他们可能需要不断经受考验。一个人活着，若无友谊，则其人生比沙漠还荒凉。友谊可使人生的美好翻倍，不幸减半。友谊是治疗失意的不二良药，是滋润灵魂的新鲜空气。

158．Make use of your friends

Make use of your friends. This requires all the art of discretion. Some are good afar off, some when near. Many are no good at conversation but excellent as correspondents, for distance removes some failings which are unbearable in close proximity to them. Friends are for use even more than for pleasure, for they have the three qualities of the Good, or, as some say, of Being in general: unity, goodness, and truth. For a friend is all in all. Few are worthy to be good friends, and even these become fewer because men do not know how to pick them out. To keep is more important than to make friends. Select those that will wear well; if they are new at first, it is some consolation they will become old. Absolutely the best are those well salted, though they may require soaking in the testing. There is no desert like living without friends. Friendship multiplies the good of life and divides the evil. It is the sole remedy against misfortune, the very ventilation of the soul.