About This Quote
Friendship is a disinterested commerce between equals, which means that friendship is something that can be shared by two people who are much different from each other. A friendship between two people is much more intimate than a friendship between two animals because animals are much smaller and are much closer to each other than human beings. The word “commerce” means business, so the term “disinterested” means not interested in gaining profit. If you are disinterested, you are not concerned with whether or not you get anything out of the relationship. The reason it is called an “equal” friendship is because friendship is supposed to be equal in nature for both parties involved.