Adolph Freiherr Knigge published Über den Umgang mit Menschen, On Dealing with People, in 1788. In his chapter on dealing with friends, he gives this advice. Werbe nicht ängstlich um Freunde. Mache nicht Jagd auf jeden guten Mann, daß er Dir besonders zugetan werden soll. Do not court friends anxiously. Do not hunt every good man so that he will become especially attached to you. He gives a reason. Jede Art von Andringlichkeit, wäre sie auch noch so gut gemeint, pflegt in dieser Welt Verdacht zu erwecken. Every kind of pushiness, however well meant, tends to arouse suspicion in this world. A man who quietly follows the path of honesty and good sense does not stay unnoticed. Er findet planlos ein paar Edle, die ihm die Hand zum brüderlichen Bunde reichen. Without any plan, he finds a few noble people who offer him their hand in a brotherly bond.