Answer: He feels that independence can strengthen friendships.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ralph Waldo Emerson points out in Society and Solitude (1870), that people need both other people's company and isolation in order to be happy and healthy. People should not exaggerate in neither of these two. Everyone should find a balance, which is crucial for friendships, as well. Solitude, according to Emerson, is powerful - in strengthens us as individuals, but also our relationships with others.