The friendship offered by a superior person is plain like water; the friendship offered by a petty person is pleasing like sweet wine. Being friends with a superior person may not be exciting but the interactions are nevertheless beneficial to both sides. Being friends with a petty person may be exciting but may hurt in the end when no more selfish gains are to be made from it.

Scroll 7: Li Ji

Walking in the company of good people is like walking into a room full of fragrant lilies. After a while we cannot smell the fragrance as if we have become part of the fragrance. Walking in the company of unsavory people is like walking into a shop that sells salted fish. After a while we cannot smell the salted fish as if we have become part of the smell. Therefore, a superior person must choose carefully whom he befriends.

Scroll 10: Kong Zi Jia Yu

Confucius said: “There are three kinds of friendship which are beneficial and three kinds of friendship which are harmful. Being friends with people who are fair-minded, sincere, and knowledgeable, are beneficial. Being friends with people who are deceptive, unprincipled and smooth talking, are harmful.”

Scroll 9: Lun Yu