Youth Being Taken in Hand by Knowledge[/caption]"Do not ally yourself either in affection or interest with any one who is not an earnest student of the higher life, unless you can completely dominate him, and even then be sure that you either recompense or chastise him according to his deserts; for the profane person hears many truths, but understands none; his ears are large but have no discretion. The profane passes his life in giddy risks, deluded with vain desires, listening to imaginary promptings, and with his eyes fixed on fancied sights. You may think he is pleased with your aims, but the truth is that he is absorbed by his own follies; the profane has no appreciation of the truth, and feels no real affection. The profane is imprudent and shameless; he discloses things which should be kept concealed, and attracts to himself brute forces which may devour him. That which he most neglects is himself; he wears his vices as a blazon, but they are an ever present burden to him, yet he does not recognize that they are a constant source of weakness. Make it a definite rule of life always to avoid:
- All men who show no courage, and all women who have not modesty.
- Those who do not maintain their friendships.
- Those who ask for advice, and then do not take it.
- Those who are never in the wrong.
- Those who are always seeking the impossible, and who are obstinately unjust to others.
- Those who, when danger is present, seek only their own safety.
All such persons are neither worthy of your confidence nor of your love. Fear contamination from them; avoid them. Yet even as you yourself must also avoid the follies of life, be careful not to put yourself in an attitude of superiority to the conditions of existence merely from a false pride, and never stoop to debase yourself to the level of the brute creation; rise above the common ways of life, and never become the slave of custom and conventionality. Treat the habits of ordinary life as others treat the weaknesses of childhood. Amuse the crowd to prevent personal injury, but never address it except in parables and enigmas; such has been the mode of conduct of all the great Masters of Magic, and in such an attitude there is wisdom."
Eliphas Levi
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