Never have a companion who casts you in the shade. The more he does so, the less desirable a companion he is. The more he excels in quality the more in repute: he will always play first fiddle and you second. If you get any consideration, it is only his leavings. The moon shines bright alone among the stars; when the sun rises she becomes either invisible or imperceptible. Never join one that eclipses you, but rather one who sets you in a brighter light. By this means the cunning Fabula in Martial was able to appear beautiful and brilliant, owing to the ugliness and disorder of her companions. But one should as little imperil oneself by an evil companion as pay honour to another at the cost of one's own credit. When you are on the way to fortune associate with the eminent; when arrived, with the mediocre.

不与令自己黯然失色之人为伍。他越让你黯然失色，你越不该与他为伍。他的品质越出众，他的名声也就越出众。他总是拉第一小提琴，你老是位居其后。即便你获得些许报酬，也不过是他剩下的残茶剩饭而已。明月独挂天空能与群星争辉；可太阳一出，它便黯然失色，甚至消失不见。所以，不要与令你黯然失色者为伴，而要与能令你增色的人为伍。马歇尔诗中有位聪明的法普拉，就是因此而显得光彩照人的，因为她那些女仆都丑陋而又邋遢。但是，一个人不要以荣誉为代价以示对他人的尊敬，也不要被狐朋狗友拖入险境。创业之时，应与才俊交往；成功之后，应与凡人为伴。