"We often choose a friend as we do a mistress - for no particular excellence in themselves, but merely from some circumstance that flatters our self-love"

This quote by William Hazlitt suggests that when we choose a pal or a girlfriend, we are not always searching for someone with specific qualities, however rather someone who makes us feel great about ourselves. This could be since of their physical look, their wealth, or their social status. Hazlitt indicates that we are typically more concerned with how our option of buddy or girlfriend reviews us, rather than the qualities of the person themselves. This could be viewed as a criticism of our propensity to prioritize our own self-interest over the qualities of the individual we are selecting. Hazlitt's quote recommends that we should be more mindful of the qualities of individuals we select to relate to, instead of merely searching for someone who flatters our self-love.