friendship
Puberty is the starting point of all human sentiments. The heart feels the need to expand outward; we wish to be recognized by others. But according to the natural order of development (see para778 above) friendship should be cultivated before sexual love. The young man's relationship to his species (his "humanity") should come prior to his relationship with his sex, and the strengthening of the more gentle passions of friendship can help mitigate the more violent passions of love.