Two sorts of people are dangerous to be conversed with:--1.
Tale-bearers, though they are commonly flatterers, and by fair speeches
insinuate themselves into men's acquaintance. Those are unprincipled
people that go about carrying stories, that make mischief among
neighbours and relations, that sow in the minds of people jealousies of
their governors, of their ministers, and of one another, that reveal
secrets which they are entrusted with or which by unfair means they
come to the knowledge of, under pretence of guessing at men's thoughts
and intentions, tell that of them which is really false. "Be not
familiar with such; do not give them the hearing when they tell their
tales and reveal secrets, for you may be sure that they will betray
your secrets too and tell tales of you." 2. Flatterers, for they are
commonly tale-bearers. If a man fawn upon you, compliment and commend
you, suspect him to have some design upon you, and stand upon your
guard; he would pick that out of you which will serve him to make a
story of to somebody else to your prejudice; therefore meddle not with
him that flatters with his lips. Those too dearly love, and too dearly
buy, their own praise, that will put confidence in a man and trust him
with a secret or business because he flatters them.