Friends and Neighbors
Much of Poor Richard's advice on friends and neighbors can be boiled down to
this, be careful. Be careful in choosing your friends and
careful how you treat them. Of course there is a very good reason for
this; almost nothing affects your character and lifestyle more than the
people you choose to spend your time around. Another major point of his
is that you should value your friends. But enough of me, lets hear
from Richard.
No better relation than a prudent and faithful friend.*
A good lawyer, a bad neighbor.
If you would have guests merry with cheer, be so yourself, or so at least
appear.
Be slow in choosing a friend, slower in changing.
An open foe may prove a curse; but a pretended friend is worse.
Promises may get thee friends, but non-performance will turn them into
enemies.
The same man cannot be both Friend and Flatterer.
A true Friend is the best Possession.
A Brother may not be a Friend, but a Friend will always be a Brother.+
Hear no ill of a friend, nor speak any of an enemy.
A Father's a treasure; a Brother's a comfort; a Friend is both.+
Love your Neighbor; yet don't pull down your Hedge.*
Friendship cannot live with Ceremony, nor without Civility.
Do good to thy Friend to keep him, to thy Enemy to gain him.
Now I've a sheep and cow, every body bids me good morrow.*
The rotton Apple spoils his Companions.
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