.

Were I to hear a man making strong protestations, and swearing to the
truth of a thing, that is in itself probable, and very likely to be, I
shall doubt his veracity; for when he takes such pains to make me
believe it, it cannot be with a good design.

28. There is a certain easiness or false modesty in most young people,
that either makes them unwilling, or ashamed to refuse any thing that is
asked of them. There is also an unguarded openness about them, that
makes them the ready prey of the artful and designing. They are easily
led away by the feigned friendships of a knave or a fool, and too rashly
place a confidence in them, that terminates in their loss, and
frequently in their ruin. Beware, therefore, as I said before, of these
proffered friendships; repay them with compliments, but not with
confidence. Never let your vanity make you suppose that people become
your friends upon a slight acquaintance: for good offices must be shewn
on both sides to create a friendship; it will not thrive, unless its
love be mutual; and it requires time to ripen it.

29. There is still among young people another kind of friendship merely
nominal, warm indeed for the time, but fortunately of no long
continuance. This friendship takes its rise from their pursuing the same
course of riot and debauchery; their purses are open to each other,
they tell one another all they know, they embark in the same quarrels,
and stand by each other on all occasions. I should rather call this a
confederacy against good morals and good manners, and think it deserves
the severest lash of the law; but they have the impudence to call it
friendship. However, it is often as suddenly dissolved as it is hastily
contracted; some accident disperses them, and they presently forget each
other, except it is to betray and laugh at their own egregious folly.

In short, the sum of the whole is, to make a wide difference between
companions and friend; for a very agreeable companion has often proved a
very dangerous friend.

_Choice of Company._

1. The next thing to the choice of friends is the choice of your
company.

Endeavour as much as you can to keep good company, and the company of
your superiors: for you will be held in estimation according to the
company you keep. By superiors I do not mean so much with regard to
birth, as merit and the light in which they are considered by the world.

2. There are two sorts of good company; the one consis