At Sāvatthi.

"Bhikkhus, beings come together and associate according to disposition. Those with an inferior disposition come together and associate with those of a similar inferior disposition. In the past, too, bhikkhus, beings came together and associated according to disposition. Those with an inferior disposition came together and associated with those of an inferior disposition.

In the future, too, bhikkhus, beings will come together and associate according to disposition. Those with an inferior disposition will come together and associate with those of a similar inferior disposition.

Even now, bhikkhus, beings come together and associate according to disposition. Those with an inferior disposition come together and associate with those of a similar inferior disposition.

Bhikkhus, just as excrement comes together and fits with excrement; urine comes together and fits with urine; saliva comes together and fits with saliva; pus comes together and fits with pus; blood comes together and fits with blood; so too, bhikkhus, beings come together and associate according to disposition. Those with an inferior disposition come together and associate with those of a similar inferior disposition. In the past, too, bhikkhus, beings came together and associated according to disposition. Those with an inferior disposition came together and associated with those of an inferior disposition. In the future, too, bhikkhus, beings will come together and associate according to disposition. Those with an inferior disposition will come together and associate with those of a similar inferior disposition. Even now, bhikkhus, beings come together and associate according to disposition. Those with an inferior disposition come together and associate with those of a similar inferior disposition.

Bhikkhus, beings come together and associate according to disposition. Those with a good disposition come together and associate with those of a similar good disposition. In the past, too, bhikkhus, beings came together and associated according to disposition. Those with a good disposition came together and associated with those of a similar good disposition.

In the future, too, bhikkhus, beings will come together and associate according to disposition. Those with a good disposition will come together and associate with those of a similar good disposition. Even now, bhikkhus, beings come together and associate according to disposition. Those with a good disposition come together and associate with those of a similar good disposition.

Bhikkhus, just as milk comes together and mixes with milk; oil with oil; ghee with ghee; honey with honey; and jaggery with jaggery; so too, bhikkhus, beings come together and associate according to disposition. Those with a good disposition come together and associate with those of a similar good disposition. In the past, too, bhikkhus, beings came together and associated according to disposition. Those with a good disposition came together and associated with those of a similar good disposition. In the future, too, bhikkhus, beings will come together and associate according to disposition. Those with a good disposition will come together and associate with those of a similar good disposition. Even now, bhikkhus, beings come together and associate according to disposition. Those with a good disposition come together and associate with those of a similar good disposition.

The Blessed One said this. Having spoken thus, the Well-Gone One further said this:

"From association, craving arises, through non-association, it is cut-off; Just as one riding on a small piece of wood, would sink in the mighty ocean.

So by consorting with a lazy person, even a virtuous person sinks; Therefore, one should steer clear of, a lazy person who is weak in effort.

Dwell together with the wise, with the noble ones who dwell in seclusion; With meditators who are resolute on their goal, who are continuously with energy aroused."