作者：威廉・麦克皮斯・萨克雷（William Makepeace Thackray, 1811-1863）
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.
一个好友胜过一笔财富，因为钱财买不到人的某些品德因素，而正是这些因素，使友情成为一种恩惠。最好的朋友是那些比我们更睿智、更出色的人，我们会受到他们的智慧和美德的激励，从而使我们的行为更加高尚。
"Keep good company, and you shall be one of the number," said George Herbert. "A man is known by the companion he keeps. " 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 companion in early life more important even than that of teachers and guardians.
“与优秀者为伍，你也会成为优秀者中的一员。”乔治•赫伯特曾说，“从一个人所交的朋友可知其为人。”在社会交往中，品性对品性的塑造胜过其他任何因素。纯洁的品格会培养纯洁的品格，爱好会引发相同的爱好。这一事实使得在年少时选择朋友甚至比选择老师和监护人还要重要。
It is true that we cannot always choose all of our companions, some are thrust upon us by business or the social relations of life, we do not choose them, we do not enjoy them; and yet, we have to associate with them more or less. The experience is not altogether without compensation, if there be principle enough in us to bear the strain. Still, in the main, choice of companions can be made, and must be made. It is not best or necessary for a young person to associate with "Tom, Dick, and Harry" without forethought or purpose. Some fixed rules about the company he or she keeps must be observed. The subject should be uttermost in the thoughts, and canvassed often.
事实上，并非所有的朋友都是我们选择的，有些是生意或社会关系强加于我们的。我们没有选择他们，也不喜欢他们，可是我们不得不或多或少地与他们交往。不过，在情势的压力之下,只要我们自有主张，这样的交往也并非全无益处。大多数情况下，我们还是可以而且必须要选择朋友的。一个年轻人无所考虑、无所目的地随意与张三李四交往是不好的，也是没必要的，他/她必须遵循一些交友的定例，择友时应首先考虑这些定例，并经常加以审视。
Companionship is education, good or not; it develops manhood or womanhood, high or low; it lifts the soul upward or drags it downward; it ministers to virtue or vice. 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.
无论是有益还是有害，友谊就是一种教育。它可以培育高贵或卑微的品格；它可以升华灵魂，也可以使之沉沦；它可以滋生美德，也可以助长邪恶。播种美德，就会收获美德；播种邪恶,就会收获邪恶。有益的友谊帮助我们播种美德，而有害的友谊则使我们播种邪恶。
