~ INTEGRITY ~

Honesty is not something you should flirt with, you should be married to it. People should be able to count on your word, just as surely as if you it were a binding contract. 

Your word is your honour!

Never trust your tongue when your heart is bitter.

Those who play with cats must expect to be scratched. Have you ever played with a cat using a string or some other toy? 

If so, you know that no matter how careful you are, you usually get scratched. That is just the nature of cats. They are not careful about where their claws strike. They just instinctively claw at things, and many times they hit you instead of the toy.

The same principle goes for people. If you are going to hang around with thugs, street punks, or people of low character, be prepared to be scratched. 

That is just their nature. 

There is no honour among thieves, and there is no true friendship among people of low character. 

I know that this statement will be offensive to some people, but it is true. You cannot trust people who do not esteem virtue and character, and it is a mistake, many times a dangerous mistake, to put your trust in them.

All of the sages throughout history tell us that it is vitally important to choose the right people to associate with and to allow to be a part of your life. 

Choosing the wrong people to be “friends” with, people of low character, can cause major problems for you, and at the least, will not help you on your path to a happy life.

The wise should choose to associate only with those who will help their journey, those who have wisdom to share with. 

Why would you choose to associate with someone who has nothing positive to offer you, but potentially could cause you much heartache and trouble? 

The one who associates with the sage becomes wise; the one who associates with the cat gets scratched. 

ps/smoh