A real friend is discovered, or made. First, discovered. Two persons
notice an attraction for one another. They see that their desires are
similar, they have the same sentiments, they agree in tastes. A feeling
of attachment becomes conscious with each of them, slight association
fosters this feeling, it increases. New associations but reveal a broader
agreement, a closer union, a perfecter harmony. The signs of friendship
appear. Heart and mind of each respond to the other, they are friends.
This is the noblest friendship. It has its origin in nature. It is, as H. Clay
Trumbull says: "Love without compact or condition; it never pivots on
an equivalent return of service or of affection. Its whole sweep is away
from self and toward the loved one. Its desire is for the friend's welfare;
its joy is in the friend's prosperity; its sorrows and trials are in the
friend's misfortunes and griefs; its pride is in the friend's attainments
and successes; its constant purpose is in doing and enduring for the
friend."

Then, friends are made. Two persons do not especially attract one
another. But, through growth of character, modification of nature, or
change in desires, sentiments, and tastes, they become attracted to each
other. Or in spite of natural disagreements or differences, through the
force of circumstances they become welded together in friendship.
Montaigne describes such an attachment, in which the souls mix and
work themselves into one piece with so perfect a mixture that there is
no more sign of a seam by which they were first conjoined. Says
Euripedes:

"A friend
Wedded into our life is more to us
Than twice five thousand kinsman one in blood."