“Friendship improves happiness and abates misery by the doubling of our joy and the dividing of our grief”
— Marcus Tullius Cicero
Simplified Meaning:
Good friends make happy times even better and hard times easier to bear. When something good happens, sharing it with friends makes us feel twice as happy, because they celebrate with us. For example, imagine you got a promotion at work; telling a close friend about it and seeing their excitement will make you feel even happier about your achievement. On the other hand, when something bad happens, talking to friends can help us feel less alone and less sad. Think about losing a pet; having a friend who listens and comforts you can make your grief more manageable. By being there for each other, friends help make life's ups feel even higher and its downs feel less low. In daily life, reaching out to friends during both good and bad times strengthens these positive effects.