A man wished to purchase an ass1, and agreed with its owner thathe should try out the animal before he bought him. He took theass home and put him in the straw-yard with his other asses2, uponwhich the new animal left all the others and at once joined theone that was most idle and the greatest eater of them all. Seeing this, the man put a halter on him and led him back to hisowner. On being asked how, in so short a time, he could havemade a trial of him, he answered, "I do not need a trial; I knowthat he will be just the same as the one he chose for hiscompanion." 
A man is known by the company he keeps. 