Prudence and common sense
1 Do not argue with a powerful man lest you fall into his hands.
2 Do not quarrel with a rich man lest he throw his weight into the scale
against you.
3 Do not argue with a talkative person; do not heap up wood on his fire.
4 Do not joke with an ignorant man for fear your ancestors will be
insulted.
5 Do not offend the man who repents of his sins, remember that we are
all deserving punishment.
6 Do not despise a man in his old age, be cause we ourselves will grow
old.
7 Do not rejoice at the death of any man, remember that we shall all
die.
8 Do not neglect the teaching of the wise, apply yourself well to their
precepts. Through them you will learn how to live and how to serve the
great.
9 Do not set aside the teachings of the elders for they also learnt it
from their forebears; they will open up your understanding and enable
you to reply at the right moment.
10 Do nothing to arouse the sinner for fear of being burned by the
flames of his fire.
11 Do not annoy the angry man for fear that he will twist your words to
his own advantage.
12 Do not lend to those more powerful than yourself; if you have lent
anything, consider it as lost.
13 Do not stand surety beyond your means; if you have done so, be ready
to pay.
14 Do not go to law with a judge be cause, due to his position, judgment
will be given in his favor.
15 Do not travel with an adventurer lest he impose himself on you and,
as he does whatever he pleas es, you both perish through his folly.
16 Do not quarrel with a bad-tempered per son nor get involved with him
in a lonely place; blood counts for little in his eyes and, when he sees
you defenseless, he will attack you.
17 Do not take counsel with a fool be cause he will not be able to
remain silent about what you have said.
18 Do nothing which should be secret before a stranger because you do
not know how he will react.
19 Do not reveal your secrets to any man, he will not be grateful to you
for doing so.