82. Evil Friendship

The decrease of friendship with those who look as if they would eat you up (through excess of love) while they are really destitute of goodness is far better than its increase.

Of what avail is it to get or lose the friendship of those who love when there is gain and leave when there is none ?

Friendship who calculate the profits (of their friendship), prostitutes who are bent on obtaining their gains, and thieves are (all) of the same character.

Solitude is more to be desired than the society of those who resemble the untrained horses which throw down (their riders) in the fields of battle.

It is far better to avoid that to contract the evil friendship of the base who cannot protect (their friends) even when appointed to do so.

The hatred of the wise is ten-million times more profitable than the excessive intimacy of the fool.

What comes from enemies is a hundred million times more profitable than what comes from the friendship of those who cause only laughter.

Gradually abandon without revealing (beforehand) the friendship of those who pretend inability to carry out what they (really) could do.

The friendship of those whose actions do not agree with their words will distress (one) even in (one's) dreams.

Avoid even the least approach to a contraction of friendship with those who would love you in private but ridicule you in public.