The father, the mother, the son, the maternal uncle, the sister’s son, other relatives and kinsmen, are all guided by considerations of interest and profit.  Father and mother may be seen to discard the dear son if fallen.[411] People take care of their own selves.  Behold the efficacy of self-interest.  O thou that art possessed of great wisdom, his escape is very difficult who immediately after he is freed from danger seeks the means of his enemy’s happiness.  Thou camest down from the tree-top to this very spot.  Thou couldst not, from levity of understanding, ascertain that a net had been spread here.  A person, possessed of levity of understanding, fails to protect his own self.  How can he protect others?  Such a person, without doubt, ruins all his acts.  Thou tellest me in sweet words that I am very dear to thee.  Hear me, however, O friend, the reasons that exist on my side.  One becomes dear from an adequate cause.  One becomes a foe from an adequate cause.  This whole world of creatures is moved by the desire of gain (in some form or other).  One never becomes dear to another (without cause).  The friendship between two uterine brothers, the love between husband and wife, depends upon interest.  I do not know any kind of affection between any persons that does not rest upon some motive of self-interest.  If, as is sometimes seen, uterine brothers or husband and wife having quarrelled reunite together from a natural affection, such a thing is not to be seen in persons unconnected with one another.  One becomes dear for one’s liberality.  Another becomes dear for his sweet words.  A third becomes so in consequence of his religious acts.  Generally, a person becomes dear for the purpose he serves.  The affection between us arose from a sufficient cause.  That cause exists no longer.  On the other hand, from adequate reason, that affection between us has come to an end.  What is that reason, I ask, for which I have become so dear to thee, besides thy desire of making me thy prey?  Thou shouldst know that I am not forgetful of this.  Time spoils reasons.  Thou seekest thy own interests.  Others, however, Possessed of wisdom, understand their own interests.  The world rests upon the example of the wise.  Thou shouldst not address such words to a person possessed of learning and competent to understand his own interests.  Thou art powerful.  The reason of this affection that thou showest for me now is ill-timed.  Guided, however, by my own interests, I myself am firm in peace and war that are themselves very unstable.  The circumstances under which peace is to be made or war declared are changed as quickly as the clouds change their form.  This very day thou wert my foe.  This very day, again, thou wert my friend.  This very day thou hast once more become my enemy.  Behold the levity of the considerations that move living creatures.  There was friendship between us as long as there was reason for its existence.  That reason, dependant upon time, has passed away.