Book 9 / Chapter 10
Paragraph 1 - The Balance of Friendship
Explanation - Part By Part
"Should we, then, make as many friends as possible, or-as in the case of hospitality it is thought to be suitable advice, that one should be 'neither a man of many guests nor a man with none'-will that apply to friendship as well; should a man neither be friendless nor have an excessive number of friends?"
Aristotle is raising a practical question here: Should we try to have as many friends as possible, or is there an ideal balance when it comes to friendships? He draws a comparison to hospitality, where it’s considered wise to avoid extremes—neither having no guests at all nor having too many. By this analogy, Aristotle is suggesting the same principle might apply to friendships. Neither being completely friendless nor burdened with too many friends is ideal, as both extremes could be problematic. This introduces the idea that there might be a sweet spot in the number of meaningful relationships one maintains, emphasizing balance and moderation rather than excess or lack.