Friendship, trust, honest interpersonal relationships, and keeping what matters most in plain view. The rest is just an allegory of the lies and manipulation seen in one's peripheral vision. You have a test for friendship? Well here is mine. Don't examine what most people care about-whether others were born of the same parents, share the same background, or studied with the same teacher - but ask this only: Where do they place their interest. In external things or the will? If all they care about is externals, then do not consider them friends. Don't think them trustworthy, constant, brave or free. Don't ever regard them as a person, if you have any judgment at all. But if you hear that, in truth these people think that good is to be found only where the will is, and where there is right use of appearance, then no longer trouble yourself whether they are father or son, or brothers, or have associated a long time and are companions, but when you have learned this only, you can declare that they are friends. As you can can consider them to be faithful and friends, as you consider them to be faithful and just. For what else is friendship than where fidelity and modesty, where there is communion of honest things and nothing else. - Epictetus If this bares any meaning to you, we have that bond already, if it means little or nothing, nothing we say or do will have meaning.