OF FLEEING FROM VAIN HOPE AND PRIDE:
“Vain is the life of that man who puts his trust in men or in any created thing. Be not ashamed to be the servant of others for the love of Jesus Christ, and to be reckoned poor in this life. Rest not upon thyself but build thy hope in God. Do what lies in thy power, and God will help thy good intent. Trust not in thy learning, nor in the cleverness of any that lives, but rather trust in the favour of God, who resists the proud and gives grace to the humble.
Boast not thyself in thy riches if thou have them, nor in thy friends if they be powerful, but in God, who gives all things, and in addition to all things desires to give even Himself. Be not lifted up because of thy strength or beauty of body, for with only a slight sickness it will fail and wither away. Be not vain of thy skillfulness or ability, lest thou displease God, from whom comes every good gift which we have.
Count not thyself better than others, lest perchance thou appear worse in the sight of God, who knows what is in man. Be not proud of thy good works, for God’s judgments are of another sort than the judgments of man, and what pleases man is ofttimes displeasing to Him. If thou have any good, believe that others have more, and so thou may preserve thy humility. It is no harm to thee if thou place thyself below all others; but it is great harm if thou place thyself above even one. Peace is ever with the humble man, but in the heart of the proud there is envy and continual wrath.
OF THE DANGER OF TOO MUCH FAMILIARITY:
Open not thine heart to every man, but deal with one who is wise and fears God. Be seldom with the young and with strangers. Be not a flatterer of the rich; nor willingly seek the society of the great. Let thy company be the humble and the simple, the devout and the gentle, and let thy discourse be concerning things which edify. Be not familiar with any woman, but commend all good women alike unto God. Choose for thy companions God and His Angels only, and flee from the notice of men.
We must love all men, but not make close companions of all. It sometimes falls out that one who is unknown to us is highly regarded through good report of him, whose actual person is nevertheless unpleasing to those who behold it. We sometimes think to please others by our intimacy, and forthwith displease them the more by the faultiness of character which they perceive in us.”
Thomas a Kempis
The Mark Of God: Understanding Your "I AM Presence" 