When you ask yourself who you really want to keep acquainted with, you will know that you don't want to keep company with small fry. (153-25)

Nobody wants to retreat. Nobody wants to keep company with a retreating person. Everyone wants to be a friend of the man going forward. How about you? Are you now going forward, or retreating? More than anything else, we should check this. (32-19)

If you want to be a best friend of anyone, you first of all should understand his agony and sorrow, and comfort him in his misfortune. Only by doing so could a friend be moved by you. If you have relationship with him through heart and zeal, he will be moved by you, and you by him. (7-306)

If a man sacrifices his happiness for his ten friends, he will be asked to be their representative when they want to have a central figure. They will not only choose him as their representative, but they will also ask him to be the leader to teach them. This is the way it goes. (49-198)