The City of the Sun

Grand Master: G.M. refers to the Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller Saint Augustine may say that, but I say that among this race of men, friendship is worth nothing, since they have not the chance of conferring mutual benefits on one another. The Grand Master argues that without private property, one cannot truly be generous to a friend.

Captain: Nay, indeed. For it is worth the trouble to see that no one can receive gifts from another. Whatever is necessary they have, they receive it from the community, and the magistrate magistrate: a civil officer or administrator takes care that no one receives more than he deserves. Yet nothing necessary is denied to anyone. Friendship is recognized among them in war, in infirmity sickness or physical weakness, in the art contests, by which means they aid one another mutually by teaching. Sometimes they improve themselves mutually with praises, with conversation, with actions, and out of the things they need. All those of the same age call one another brothers. They call all over twenty-two years of age, fathers; those that are less than twenty-two are named sons. Moreover, the magistrates govern well, so that no one in the fraternity the communal brotherhood can do injury to another.

Grand Master: And how?

Captain: As many names of virtues as there are among us, so many magistrates there are among them. There is a magistrate who is named Magnanimity greatness of spirit and generosity, another Fortitude, a third Chastity, a fourth Liberality, a fifth Criminal and Civil Justice, a sixth Comfort, a seventh Truth, an eighth Kindness, a tenth Gratitude, an eleventh illegible?