“A man is known by the company he keeps.”
This is a proverbial saying and it is a true one.
You have only one life to live, and you must be as careful of that life
as a man is of his gold.
Good companions help you on the upward path; evil companions drag you
down. Men possess free will, but a misuse of it brings speedy
punishment.
Opportunity meets you and asks: “Who are your companions?”
Not being able to deceive Opportunity, you tell the truth and answer:
“Oh, I go around with the boys. We stand around the street corners;
smoke cigarettes; hang around the billiard and pool rooms; play craps
occasionally, and—”
But Opportunity does not wait to hear any more, it vanishes and keeps
away from you, leaving you free to follow your own head.
It has come to be a test of quality made by every employer, to judge an
applicant by the company he keeps.
“Tell me who your companions are and I will tell you who you are.”
There is no mind reading about this, it is common sense.
In these days when there is so much vice and crime; when men have become
suspicious of their next door neighbor, a wise man is careful whom he
trusts. If you associate with an element that is suspicious you can not
complain if you are yourself suspected.
It is not necessary to go about with your hands folded in an attitude of
prayer, or pretend to be overly virtuous and honest, all you need is to
be a man, open and above board, and decent in your associations with
others.