益者三友，损者三友

孔子曰：“益者三友，损者三友。友直、友谅、友多闻，益矣；友便辟、友善柔、友便佞，损矣。”

《论语》季氏篇第十六

Confucius said, "There are three friendships which are advantageous, and three which are injurious. Friendship with the upright; friendship with the sincere; and friendship with the man of much observation: these are advantageous. Friendship with the man of specious airs; friendship with the insinuatingly soft; and friendship with the glib-tongued: these are injurious."

specious /ˈspiːʃəs/

1.ADJ Something that is specious seems to exist or be true, but is not real or true. 貌似正确实在不然的

例：It is unlikely that the Duke was convinced by such specious arguments.

公爵不太可能被这种貌似正确的理由说服。

insinuating /ɪnˈsɪnjʊˌeɪtɪŋ/

1.ADJ If you describe someone's words or voice as insinuating, you mean that they are saying something disapproving in an indirect way. 含沙射影的表不满

例：Cletus kept making insinuating remarks.

克莱塔斯不断地在说些含沙射影的话。

glib /ɡlɪb/

1.ADJ If you describe what someone says as glib, you disapprove of it because it implies that something is simple or easy, or that there are no problems involved, when this is not the case. 油嘴滑舌的表不满

例：...the glib talk of "past misery."

…对“昔日痛苦”的夸夸其谈。

Illustration:

http://lisiming.net/2013/03/confucius-analects-good-friends/

We as human share the world, create the world, and influence each other moment by moment.  Friends are those we choose to hang out with regularly in our lives, and therefore exert great influence to ourselves besides our family and work associates. There is a Chinese saying “近朱者赤，近墨者黑 – One takes on the attributes of one’s associates.”  How to choose friends that will influence us positively?  Confucius recommends friends that are upright (with principles),  honest, and knowledgeable, and avoid friends that are not upright (no principles), flattering, and rhetoric.

When one is not upright and lives one life with no principle, one is vulnerable to temptation and fall; when one is immersed in flattery, one’s self image is inflated and is departed from reality; when one is rhetoric it can easily be used to cover up lies which leads to confusion.

Make friends that will move your lives positively. Just like how we choose and learn from teachers and teachings that will uplift our lives.