Chreia's, Maxim's and the Persuasive Essay

Each Man is Like Those in Whose Company He Delights

In this saying, you see that a man can be a different person while in different company. He should choose his friends wisely, it says, and avoid bad or corrupt values. In a few concise words, it shows us key values in life.

All people mirror the camaraderie they enjoy.

As a student who disassociates from bad company, we too should be wary of bad company. He knows that if he associates with the bad, the bad will be associated with him, giving him a bad name and reputation. He thus is a good student, has many good friends, and has righteous morals, for he has good, true friends that will save him from making wrong choices.

A well-meaning student, though, may make bad friends thinking of "fun" these characters bring. will eventually pull him deeper into a whirlpool from which he cannot escape, eventually drowning out everything else, morals, friends, family, faith, etc. We should wisely steer around such people.

However, not just people can affect us, our habits and constant memories will bring us down. If we expose ourselves frequently to violent games, or attend violent movies, these things will eventually start sounding their own call among our morals. The scary part being, we won't even realize a difference. So, just as in making friends, watch the things you see and hear, lest they become a part of you.

Solomon made the very mistake this saying warns against. He went against the Lord's commands, which said not to intermarry with the surrounding nations. He married 700 wives and had 300 concubines. Of these women, many were of foreign religion, and they convinced to eventually have temples built to their gods, and even convinced him to worship the idols! This shows the value of choosing our companions wisely.

"Tell me thy company and I'll tell thee what thou art." Thus spake Cervantes, a Spanish writer, what did he mean? If you associate with a bad crowd, you are most likely bad yourself. Watch yourself in order that you might not join in with bad morals and become an evil or vicious person.

Now, my friends, come to realize, as this maxim so truly states, that your company becomes who you are, for better or for worse. Watch your company, and watch yourself.

Metaphor(page 129 paragraph 3)

Ethopia

Ecphrasis