In each of my friends there is something that only some
other friend can fully bring out. By myself I am not large enough to call the
whole man into activity; I want other lights than my own to show all his
facets. Now that Charles is dead, I shall never again see Ronald’s reaction to
a specifically Caroline joke. Far from having more of Ronald, having him “to
myself” now that Charles is away, I have less of Ronald. Hence true friendship is
the least jealous of loves. Two friends delight to be joined by a third, and
three by a fourth, if only the newcomer is qualified to become a real friend ….
Of course the scarcity of kindred souls--- not to mention practical
considerations about the size of rooms and the audibility of voices--- set the
limits to the enlargement of the circle; but within those limits we possess
each friend not less but more as the number of those with whom we share him
increases.
Source:
Tolkien and C.S. Lewis the Gift of Friendship
Colin Duriez, HiddenSpring 2003, Pg. 80
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