A good companion is better than a fortune, for a fortune 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.
　　“A man is known by the companion he keeps.” It is always true. Companionship of a high order is powerful to develop character. Character makes character in the associations of life faster than anything else. Purity causes purity, like begets like(有其父必有其子); and this fact makes the choice of companion in early life more important even than that of teachers and guardians.
　　Companionship is education, good or not; it develops manhood or womanhood, high or low; it lifts soul upward or drags it downward; it ministers to virtue or vice. There is no half way work about its influence. If it ennobles（使高尚）, it does grandly, if it demoralizes, it doest it devilishly（像魔鬼地）. It saves or destroys lustily（强大地）. Nothing in the world is surer than this. Sow virtue, and the harvest will be virtue; sow vice, and the harvest will be vice. Good companionships help us to sow virtue; evil companionships help us to sow vice.
　　
　　一个好友胜过一笔财富。人性中有一些品质会让友谊变成一种幸福的事，而金钱买不到这些品质。最好的朋友是那些比我们更睿智和更出色的人，他们的智慧和美德会激发我们去做更高尚的事情。他们有着比我们更多的智慧和更高尚的情操，可以在精神上和道德上将我们带入一个新的境界。
　　“观其友而知其人”，这句话总是对的。高层次的交往会有力地塑造一个人的性情。在交往中，品格对品格的影响胜过其它任何因素。纯洁的品格会培养纯洁的品格，爱好会引发相同的爱好。这些表明，年少时选择朋友甚至比选择老师和监护人重要。
　　无论是有益的还是有害的友谊，都是一种教导。它可以培育或是高贵，或是卑微的品格；它可以使灵魂升华，也可以使之堕落；它可以滋生美德，也可以催生邪恶。它的影响没有折中之道：如果它让人高尚，就会用一种无比高贵的方式；如果让人堕落，也会用一种无比邪恶的方式。它可以有力地拯救一个人，也可以轻易地毁掉一个人。播种美德，就会收获美德；播种邪恶，就会收获邪恶，这是非常确定的。有益的友谊帮我们播种美德，有害的友谊则支使我们撒下邪恶的种子。