These immoral companions do evil themselves, and by their example of immodesty incite others to imitate them.
After this fashion, intercourse with vicious companions corrupted, in days of old, the youthful Augustine. He has left to you, dear reader, in his repentant confessions, the example also of his tears and sorrow; he warns and exhorts you, if the enemy of your innocence presents himself in human form, to fly from him, as you would fly from a roaring lion threatening to devour you.
O Youth, if this shall be thy aim,
To lead a life that's free from blame,
Man's company thou oft must flee
And learn with God alone to be.
LXV. The Enemy in word and pen
1.It is very sad and deplorable that unbecoming and immodest conversation is so common in our day. Unchaste conversation is carried on in saloons and hotels, in streets and parks, in field and forest, at social gatherings and in workshops, on steamers and in railway coaches, on the way to church, and at the very church door.
Many persons in their perversity seem to find nothing amusing that does not refer to improper and scandalous things. He who can relate the most shameless anecdotes, or make the coarsest witticisms and lewdest
