I once watched a young scholar who sought the company only of men who could lend him money. He spoke of high philosophy while counting his coins, believing that gold alone made him wise. It was a folly as plain as a mirror reflecting nothing but dust. To walk with fools is to become foolish; to sit beside flatterers is to grow soft in the heart. We are not forged in silence or solitude, but in the fires of our chosen circle. The man who chooses only those who praise him finds himself a statue, cold and unchanging.

What do you seek in your own company? Do you choose the path that leads to truth, even if it is rough and unforgiving? Look at the faces around you and ask if they show the kind of soul you wish to build. If your friends are only there for gain or amusement, then your own character must be questioned. True strength comes from standing with those who challenge you, who do not flatter but reveal. Let your associates be the mirror that shows you what remains hidden within.