Page:Niti literature (Gray J, 1886).pdf/174

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The Suttavaddhananîti.
145

hypocritical, a subservient friend, a friend who brings destruction,—one should shun these four.

11.

A friend who supports you, who is alike in adversity or prosperity, who speaks about your welfare, and one who is compassionate,—one should associate with these four.

12.

A wise man does not utter any and everything that rises to his lips, as if the mouth were for the purpose alone of eating and of talking.

13.

A wise man should give utterance to speech of four kinds,—good speech, right speech, loving speech, and truthful speech.

14.

One should speak refined language; for civilised people make use of suitable speech, saying "Brother" to him who is like a brother, and "Father" to one who is like a father.

15.

One should give expression to what is pleasant, not, indeed, to what is bad: giving expression to what is pleasant is good; a person grieves giving utterance to what is bad.

16.

One ought to speak what is pleasant; never should he speak what is unpleasant: unpleasant utterances are harsh even to brutes.

K