Book I, Chapter VIII

Of Shunning Too Much Familiarity

1. Discover not thy heart to every man. (Ecclesiastes 8) But trust thy affairs with a man that is wise and feareth God. Keep not much company with young people and strangers. Be not a flatterer with the rich, nor willingly appear before the great. Associate thyself with the humble and simple, with the devout and virtuous, and treat of those things which may be to edification. Be not familiar with any woman, but recommend all good women in general to God. Desire to be familiar only with God and his angels, and fly the acquaintance of men.

2. We must have the love of charity for all, but familiarity is not expedient It sometimes happens that a person, when not known, shines by a good reputation; who, when he is present, is disagreeable to them that see him. We think sometimes to please others by being with them, and we begin rather to disgust them by the evil behavior which they discover in us.

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