And these few precepts in thy memory
(Remember what I say)
See
thou character. Give thy thoughts no tongue,
Nor any unproportioned thought
his act.
(Don't speak without thinking what you say)
Be thou
familiar, but by no means vulgar.
(Be polite rather than falsly
friendly)
Those friends thou hast, and their adoption tried,
Grapple
them to thy soul with hoops of steel;
(Keep your real friends, guard
their friendship closely)
But do not dull thy palm with
entertainment
Of each new-hatch'd, unfledged comrade.
(Be careful of
false friends who are familiar before they really know you)
Beware
Of
entrance to a quarrel, but being in,
Bear't that the opposed may beware of
thee.
(Be careful in starting arguments as the other person may have the
advantage)
Give every man thy ear, but few thy voice;
Take each man's
censure, but reserve thy judgment.
(Listen to other people without giving
advice easily. If criticised listen but make your own judgement)
Costly
thy habit as thy purse can buy,
But not express'd in fancy; rich, not
gaudy;
For the apparel oft proclaims the man,
And they in France of the
best rank and station
Are of a most select and generous chief in
that.
(Wear the best clothes you can afford, but not too ostenatatious as
dressing well conveys a favourable impression)
Neither a borrower nor a
lender be;
For loan oft loses both itself and friend,
And borrowing dulls
the edge of husbandry.
(Do not borrow or lend money as it could cause
resenttment and lose friends)
This above all: to thine ownself be
true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be
false to any man.
(Do not deceive yourself as by not doing you will not
be decptive to others)
Farewell: my blessing season this in thee!