Of shunning too great familiarity
OF THE IMITATION OF CHRIST
Book I If you have any good in you, believe still better things of others, that you may preserve humility.
It will do you no harm to put yourself below everybody; but it will hurt you very much to think yourself superior even to one other man.
The humble man dwells in continual peace; but the proud man's heart is the prey of envy and frequent anger.
CHAPTER 8
OF SHUNNING TOO GREAT FAMILIARITY
Do not open your heart to every man;^ but discuss your affairs with one that is wise and fears God.
Be seldom with young people and strangers.
Do not fawn upon the rich, and be not fond of appearing in the presence of the great.
Keep company with the humble and simple, with the devout and well-ordered; and converse of such things as are edifying.
Be not familiar with any woman; commend all good women in general to God.
Desire to be familiar only with God and His holy Angels; and shun the acquaintance of men.
2. We should have charity towards all men; but familiarity is not expedient.
It sometimes happens that a person unknown to us has a good reputation and is much esteemed; and then we meet him, and the man himself proves far from pleasing.
Sometimes we think to please others with our company; whereas we begin rather to be displeasing to them, because of the evil that they discover in us.
CHAPTER 9
OF OBEDIENCE AND SUBJECTION
It is a very great thing to be m a state of obedience, to live under a superior and not to be one's own master.
It is much safer to Hve in subjection than in authority.
Many are under obedience rather out of necessity than out of love; and such as these suffer and are apt to murmur.
Neither wUl they acquire hberty of mind, unless they submit themselves with their whole heart for God's sake.
1 Ecclesiasticus viii, 22.