CHAPTER III
Friendship must have reference to the virtue of the friend. There may be no assumption on the groundof one＇s own advantages.
1. Wan Chang asked Mencius, saying, "I venture to ask the principles of friendship." Mencius replied,"Friendship should be maintained without any presumption on the ground of one＇s superior age,or station, or the circumstances of his relatives.Friendship with a man is friendship with his virtue,and does not admit of assumptions of superiority.