择友的艺术 | Choice of Companions

Choice of Companions

择友

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. Greater wisdom and goodness than we possess lifts us higher mentally and morally.

一位好友胜于一笔财富，因为财富买不来朋友身上的珍贵品德，而正是这些品德使人们之间的交往成为一件幸事。最好的朋友就是比我们更睿智、更出色的人，我们可以被他 的智慧和美德所激励,从而使我们的行为更加高尚。他们有着比我们更多的智慧和更高 尚的情操，从而促使我们不断提高自己的精神境界和道德水平。

It is true that we cannot always choose all of our companions. Some are thrust upon us by business and the social relations of life. We do not choose the, 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 man, choice of companions can be made, and must be made. It is not best or necessary for a young person to associate with “Tome, Dick and Henry” without forethought or purpose. Some fixed rules about the company he or she keeps should be observed. The subject should be uppermost in the thoughts, and canvassed often.

不可否认的是，有些朋友总是我们无法选择的。有些人是由于生意和各种社会关系的缘故被硬塞给我们的。我们没有选择他们，我们也不喜欢他们，但是我们必须或多或少地跟他们交往。如果我们坚守内心的原则，承受一些压力，这样的经历并非完全没有补偿。但总的来说,朋友可以选择,也必须选择。如果没有事先的掂量或明确的目的，一个 年轻人就随便与张三、李四或王五交往，那是不妥当，也是不必要的。需要注意的是，结交朋友是必须确立一些原则。这一点务必在思想上引起重视,并时时自查。

Companionship is education, good or bad；it develops manhood or womanhood, high or low, it lifts the soul upward or drags it downward；it ministers to virtue or vice. There is no half way work about its influence. If it ennobles, it does it grandly. If it demoralizes, it does it devilishly, it saves or destroys lustily. Nothing it the world is surer than this. Sow virtue, and the harvest will be virtue. Sow vice, and the harvest will be vice. Good companions help us to sow virtue；evil companions help us to sow vice.

无论益友还是损友,都会使我们得到教育。无论对男对女，它都可以滋养高尚或卑微 的人格，它可以使灵魂升华，也可以使之堕落。它可以滋生美德，也可以催生邪恶。它的影响没有折中之道。友谊，如果使人高尚，就会使人如天使般庄重。如果使人堕落，就会使人如魔鬼般邪恶。它可以有力地括救一个人,也可以轻易地毁掉一个人。世上没有什 么事比这更确定无疑了。播种美德，收获的就是美德，播种邪恶，收获的就是邪恶。好的 朋友可以帮助我们播种美德，坏的朋友促使我们播种邪恶。