Quotation:

“Callimaco: It’s certainly true that fortune and nature balance their accounts: if anything good happens to you, something bad is bound to spring up right after it. The more my hope has increased, the more my fear has increased.” page 39

“Friar Timoteo: There’s a truth in the old saying that bad company leads men to the gallows; and often a person gets into trouble as much for being too easygoing and good-natured as for being too vicious.” page 47

Comment:

Context for quote #1: It is in part of Callimaco’s monologue at the beginning of Act IV. He is explaining that the more his hope grows for the success of his scheme, the more he grows fearful that his plans will fall through. 

When I read this, I underlined it right away because I interpreted it as foreshadowing. This was one of many lines that I interpreted that way. It left me wondering what was going to happen: Was his hopefulness going to help him succeed? Or would his fear overcome him and screw the entire plan up? I do also agree with this statement, because I believe that if you’re really hopeful and passionate about something, there is always going to be an equal, underlying anxiety about the possibility of failure. 

Context for quote #2: Friar, Callimaco, Liguiro, and Siro have just finished up their conversation. In their conversation they discussed some last minute details to outline their plan. Liguiro, Callimaco, and Siro leave to go and disguise themselves. Liguiro gives orders to Friar to stay put and wait for them to return so they can all go meet up with Messer Nicia. It is in scene 6 and Friar is now by himself.

I do believe this statement to be truthful. If you involve too many people into a situation, such as scheming, it can cause a bad mixture and can cause some trouble; in this case the trouble is death by hanging. I also believe it is true that you can get into trouble for being too soft, but you can also get into trouble for being too harsh. You have to find the right balance of passion, determination, etc. so that you don’t run into trouble.

Question: Should there be limits to how many people you go to for help and company? Would this help you in the end? Would this help lessen your fears and strengthen hopes or would that be determined solely by yourself?