Here is how I remember the incident [of stealing pears with friends]. My delight in stealing came not from what I stole but from the fact that I stole. Still, I doubt that I would have enjoyed doing it alone. Friendship sometimes causes us to sin just for the fun of it. Someone cries “Come on, let’s do it” and we are ashamed to be ashamed of doing it!

—Augustine, Confessions, 2.9

Here Augustine reminds us why it is important to choose our friends well. This is also why parents dare not abrogate our responsibility in overseeing who our children have as friends, at least before our kids become adults. Character does matter, and it rubs off on others.