To seek for a secret that would render it constant, would be as wild a search as for the philosopher's stone, or the grand panacea; and discovery would be equally useless, or rather pernicious to mankind.The most holy band of society is friendship.
It has been well said, by a shrewd satirist, "that rare as true love is, true friendship is still rarer."
Love, the common passion, in which chance and sensation take place of choice and reason, is in some degree, felt by the mass of mankind; for it is not necessary to speak, at present, of the emotions that rise above or sink below love.
This passion, naturally increased by suspense and difficulties, draws the mind out its accustomed state, and exalts the affections; but the security of marriage, allowing the fever of love to subside, a healthy temperature is thought insipid, only by those who have not sufficient intellect to substitute the calm tenderness of friendship, the confidence of respect, instead of blind admiration, and the sensual emotions of fondness.
---摘自《女權辯》
唯有從我們尚未跨過友誼與熱切渴望之前，我們還足以發現真愛。
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