What men have called friendship is only a social arrangement, a mutual adjustment of interests, an interchange of services given and received it is, in sum, simply a business from which those involved propose to derive a steady profit for their own self-love.

Summary

This quote suggests that what is commonly perceived as friendship is actually just a strategic arrangement based on mutual benefits. It argues that friendships are primarily driven by self-interest and the desire to gain personal advantages, rather than genuine feelings of care or affection for the other person. Ultimately, it portrays friendships as resembling a business transaction, where individuals engage in a give-and-take dynamic to satisfy their own self-esteem and self-centered needs.