Friendship is something whose depth fits human aspirations and

"Friendship is something whose depth fits human aspirations and fulfills human possibilities. It has heft to it, as a gold-piece does and a gambling chip does not." These words by Eugene Kennedy echo through the ages, speaking of the profound nature of true friendship, and the sacred role it plays in the human journey. In this world, where so many relationships are born of fleeting desires and are shaped by convenience or mere circumstance, Kennedy calls upon us to recognize the weight and substance of a friendship that is rooted in the deep soil of shared values and mutual growth. Friendship, when it is true, is not a mere transaction, nor is it something that can be cast aside with a moment's whim. It is a golden bond, a connection that nourishes the spirit and elevates the soul to greater heights.

Consider the nature of the gambling chip, which Kennedy contrasts with the gold-piece. A gambling chip is an object of fleeting worth—used for a moment, tossed aside when it has served its purpose. It carries no meaning beyond the game it plays, no intrinsic value beyond the momentary pleasure of the bet. It is a token of chance, of risk and superficial gain. It is akin to the shallow friendships that many pursue, friendships based on the momentary thrill, the fleeting pleasures of mutual interest, or the pursuit of gain. These are the friendships that, like the gambling chip, are light in substance, offering no lasting fulfillment or depth. They vanish as quickly as they are formed, leaving nothing but emptiness in their wake.

In contrast, the gold-piece is a symbol of something far greater—substance, value, and permanence. It is not something to be used up and discarded; it is a treasure to be cherished, held close, and passed down through the ages. True friendship, like the gold-piece, has weight. It is not a casual affair, but a bond forged through time, through trials, and through the shared pursuit of something greater than ourselves. A friendship built on mutual respect, honesty, and the shared desire for growth becomes a force of great power—an anchor in the storms of life, a source of strength when the world seems dark.

Let us look to the lives of the great philosophers, such as Plato and Aristotle, whose friendship was a force of transcendent power. Plato, the great teacher, and Aristotle, his pupil, were not just intellectual partners but companions in the pursuit of wisdom. Their friendship was not fleeting or shallow, like a passing fancy. It was rooted in their shared dedication to understanding the very nature of truth and virtue. Though their paths eventually diverged, their bond was forged in the furnace of intellectual rigor, and the fruits of their shared pursuit have lasted through the ages. Their friendship was not a momentary pleasure, nor was it built on superficial gain. It was a golden alliance, formed to shape the future of thought itself.

In our own lives, how often do we allow ourselves to be swayed by the allure of transient friendships, those that are formed in the heat of a passing desire or a shared convenience? How many times do we place the value of a relationship on what it can provide in the moment, only to find it crumbling under the weight of time? Kennedy’s wisdom calls us to examine the depth of the relationships we cultivate and to ask ourselves: does this friendship have weight? Does it carry the substance of the gold-piece, or does it flutter away like a gambling chip, light and fleeting?

True friendship, like the gold-piece, demands something of us—it requires commitment, vulnerability, and the willingness to invest in another’s life. It is not the fleeting connection formed in the heat of a moment, but the bond formed over time, built upon shared experiences, struggles, and triumphs. It is the companion who stands beside you when the world falls apart, the one who does not abandon you when the winds of fortune shift. It is in these friendships that the greatest aspects of our humanity are revealed.

The lesson to take from these words is not merely about recognizing the worth of true friendship—it is also about becoming that friend. Seek out the relationships that are built on depth, not convenience. Cultivate friendships that stretch beyond the boundaries of your immediate desires and aspirations. Be the friend who offers substance, who stands unwavering in loyalty, and whose presence is a constant source of strength and support. In the quiet moments, the difficult trials, and the joyful celebrations, it is these golden friendships that will remain, the ones that give your life its deepest meaning. Invest in friendships that challenge you to grow, that stretch your soul to its fullest potential, and you will find that, like the gold-piece, they will continue to shine, even through the ages.

May we, in the course of our lives, remember the wisdom of Eugene Kennedy and seek out relationships that are worthy of the deepest parts of our being. Let us refuse to settle for the lightness of gambling chips, and instead, let us build friendships that are heavy with the worth of the soul, with aspirations shared and futures built together. And may we, in turn, become the friends who offer others the gift of golden companionship, elevating all who are fortunate enough to walk beside us.