What Are You Looking For?
Love What You Are Looking At, For Sure My Eyes Deceive Me!
Sophia: Gentlemen, I’ve been pondering the nature of friendship. Aristotle, you described it as a single soul dwelling in two bodies. How can such unity exist without losing the self entirely?
Aristotle: Sophia, a true friend reflects the virtues we admire in ourselves, yet also challenges our flaws. In friendship, the self is not lost but mirrored, extended, and refined. It is the harmony of two souls aspiring toward goodness.
Froude: And yet, Aristotle, I would add that the essence of greatness often requires a neglect of the self. To devote attention, energy, and care beyond one’s own immediate desires is what elevates both character and society.
What is a friend? A single soul dwelling in two bodies.
— Aristotle (384-322 BC)
Sophia: So the act of friendship itself becomes a kind of moral labor—a way to practice neglect of the self for the sake of another, while still nurturing a shared soul?
Aristotle: Precisely. Love rightly placed does not deceive the eyes; it clarifies them. A friend’s presence teaches us to see virtue more clearly, both in them and in ourselves.
Froude: And in doing so, the self recedes, not as vanquished, but as disciplined. Greatness and friendship are intertwined: one exercises virtue in the world, and the other cultivates the inner harmony that makes virtue possible.
Sophia: Then perhaps our delight in companionship is also a delight in moral reflection. To love what we are looking at, for sure our eyes deceive us not, is to recognize the worth both within and beyond ourselves.
The essence of greatness is a neglect of the self.
— James Anthony Froude (1818-1894)
Aristotle: Indeed. Friendship is a school of virtue. In the shared soul, one learns to balance self-interest with the well-being of another.
Froude: And by neglecting the self when necessary, one allows friendship, duty, and greatness to flourish. The soul grows not through indulgence, but through deliberate attentiveness to what matters beyond its own immediate pleasure.
Sophia: A mirror of virtue, a test of selflessness, and a source of delight. Friendship, it seems, is both the reward and the exercise of the good life.
The planksip Writers' Cooperative is proud to sponsor an exciting article rewriting competition where you can win part of over $750,000 in available prize money.
Figures of Speech Collection Personified
Our editorial instructions for your contest submission are simple: incorporate the quotes and imagery from the above article into your submission.
What emerges is entirely up to you!
Winners receive $500 per winning entry multiplied by the article's featured quotes. Our largest prize is $8,000 for rewriting the following article;
Heraclitus
At planksip, we believe in changing the way people engage—at least, that's the Idea (ἰδέα). By becoming a member of our thought-provoking community, you'll have the chance to win incredible prizes and access our extensive network of media outlets, which will amplify your voice as a thought leader. Your membership truly matters!