Choice of Companions 择友

     A good companion is better than a fortune, for a fortue cannot purchase those elements of character which make companionship a blessing. The best companion is one who is wiser and better than ourselves, for we are inspired by his wisdom and virtue to nobler deeds. Greater wisdom and goodness than we possess lifts us higher mentally and morally.
    好友胜于财富，因为财富买不到基本的品德，而正是这些基本品德使人们之间的交往成为一件幸事。最好的朋友就是比我们更睿智，更出色的人，我们可以被他的智慧和美德所激励，从而使我们的行为更加高尚。他们的才智比我们的更高尚，从而能使我们在精神和道德的境界得到提高。

    "A man is known by the companion he keeps." It is always true. Companionship of high order is powerful to develop character. Character makes character in the associations of life faster than anything else. Purity begets purity,  like begets like; and this fact makes the choice of companions in eraly life more important even than that of teachers and guardians.
    “观察一个人所结交的朋友，就可以知道他是什么样的人：这句话总是对的。高层次的交友对于性情的培养特别有利。在交往中，性情对于性情的影响胜过其他一切因素。近朱者赤，近墨者黑，这一事实告诉人们，在年轻时代，择友甚至比选择老师和监护人更为重要。

    It is true that we cannot always choose all of our companions. Some are thrust upon us by business and the social relations of life. We do not choose the, we do not enjoy them, and yet we have to associate with them more or less. The experience is not altogether without comperisation. If there be principle enough in us to bear the strain. Still, in the man, choice of companions can be made, and must be made. It is not best or necessary for a young person to associate with " Tome, Dick and Henry " without forethought or purpose. Some fixed rules about the company he or she keeps shuld be observed. The subject should be uppermost in the thughts, and canvassed often.
    不可否认的是，有些朋友总是我们无法选择的。有些人是由于生意和各种社会关系的缘故被硬塞给我们的。我们没有选择他们，我们也不喜欢他们，但是我们必须或多或少地跟他们交往。如果我们坚守内心的原则，承受一些压力，这样的经历并非完全没有补偿。但总的来说，朋友可以选择，必须选择。如果没有事先的掂量或明确的目的，一个年轻人就随便与张三，李四或王五交往，那是不妥当，不必要的。一些确定的交友之道应该被遵守。这一点应放在思想最重要的位置，并时时检点自己。

    Companionship is education, good or bad; it develops manhood or womanhood, high or low, it lifts the soul upward or drags it downward; it ministers to virtue or vice. There is no half way work about its influence. If it ennobles, it does it grandly. If it demoralizes, it does it devilishly, it saves or destroys lustily. Nothing it the world is surer than this. Sow virthe, and the harvest will be virtue. Sow vice, and the harvest will be vice. Good companions help us to sow virtue; evil companions help us to sow vice.
    无论是由一的或者有害的友谊，都是一种教育。无论对男对女，它都可以滋养高尚或卑微的人格，它可以是灵魂升华，也可以是之堕落。它可以滋生美德，也可以催生邪恶。他的影响没有折中之道。友谊，如果使人高尚，，就会使人如天使般庄重。如果使人堕落，就会使人如魔鬼般邪恶。它可以有力地拯救一个人，也可以轻易地毁掉一个人。世上没有什么事比这更确定无疑了。播种美德，收获的就是美德，播种邪恶，收获的就是邪恶。好的朋友可以帮助我们播种我们播种美德，坏的朋友促使我们播种邪恶。