Georgina asked:

I was wondering if you could help me with my homework. I need to find the quote written by
Confucius, I am not sure of the exact wording but it I think that it starts with "Friends from afar...". The
quote implies that long distance friends are the best friends that you can have.

Please, please help me and tell me the exact wording of this quote. Thank you for your time.

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A very quick search of the web has yielded these translations of the Confucius quote:

"How can I not be happy when there are friends come from afar?"

"What a great joy to receive friends from afar."

"I feel very happy when I have friends coming from afar."

"It's a greater joy to receive friends from afar."

"Isn't it a pleasure to have friends coming from afar?"

"When friends come from afar, is it not indeed a pleasure?"

"We are only overjoyed to receive friends from afar."

Robert Martin
Philosophy Department

Dalhousie University>

Halifax, Canada

I can answer Georgina's question. She is evidently thinking of Confucius AnalectsI/i which contains
the saying that translates roughly:

"Is it not delightful when friends visit from distant places?"

Jimmy Lenman
Department of Philosophy

University of Glasgow

Secretary, British Society for Ethical Theory