以书为友 meaning in Chinese

reading companionshiof books

This is the best choice to make friends with a person or books
而不论以人为友抑或是以书为友，皆当作最好的选择。
A man may usually be know by the books he read as well as by the company he keeps ; for there is a companionship of book as well as of men
要了解一个人，可以看他交什么样的朋友，可以看他读什么样的书，因为以书为友和以人为友的道理是一样的。
A man may usually be known by the books he reads as well as by the company he keeps ; for there is a companionship of books as well as of men ; and one should always live in the best company
看一个人读什么书一般就可知道他是一个什么样的人，就像看一个人同什么人交往就可以知道他的为人一样；世人有以人为友的，也有以书为友的；无论是以书为友抑或以人为友，都应择其善者而从之。