A man who meant to buy an ass took it on trial and, leading it in among his own asses, set it before the manger. The ass, ignoring all the others, went and stood beside the laziest and greediest of them. Seeing that it did nothing, the man put a halter on it, led it back, and returned it to its owner. When the owner asked whether the trial he had made was conclusive, he answered, "I need no further test: I'm sure it is just like the companion it picked out from all the rest."
We are judged to be like those whose company we enjoy.
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