Et Montaigne? L'amitié?

We all have friends, don't we? Well friendship happens to be the next topic. Montaigne deeply explored the institution of friendship and this is what he tells us:

These are some forms of friendship:

1. Consumer friendship - we are friends with a certain person to attain some form of immediate pleasure or satisfaction. We have many of these kind of friends.

2. Entrepreneurial friendship - this is similar to the previous in the sense that we want to attain some sort of benefit yet in this occasion the benefits are gained through a long-term relationship. We have many of these friends, but less than we do consumer friends.

3. Voluntary Servitude - this is the deepest and most meaningful form of friendship. This form of friendship contains honestly and support with the elimination of jealousy. We have no expectations for this person. This person with whom we partake of this form of friendship is virtually a second version of ourselves and we hope to improve them. Lastly, this form of friendship is rare.

'I get by with a little help from my friends'