Esteem thou the men that have grown old in righteousness, and acquire their friendship.

Behold the men who can cure the evils that have already befallen thee and who can guard thee from future ones: cultivate thou their friendship with ardour.

It is the rarest of rare good fortunes if a man can secure to himself the devotion of men of worth.

If those that are worthier than thyself have become thy intimates, thou hast acquired a strength before which all other strength paleth.

As the eyes of the prince are his own ministers, let him use his discretion and choose them wisely.

Behold the man who can move with the worthy as their intimate: his foes will be powerless against him.

Who can ruin the man that commandeth the friendship of those that can reprove him?

Behold the prince who reposeth not on the support of men who can rebuke him: he will perish even when he hath no foes.

Profit is not for those that have no capital: even so stability is not for them that repose not on the firm support of the wise.

It is foolish to make a multitude of foes: but it is ten times worse to give up the intimacy of the good.