However, friendship cannot be forced; it arises naturally. Emerson emphasizes that friends are those who perceive in one another the divine essence that animates nature. True friendships might emerge unexpectedly and may not conform to societal expectations.

Emerson insists that the rules of friendship are austere and eternal. He maintains that friends should not become too close, recognizing the infinite distance that separates individuals from the rest of the world. Friendship, according to Emerson, is not about superficial pleasures but about profound connections between minds.