Final answer:
Laertes should avoid borrowing and lending to maintain personal integrity and financial independence, as it can lead to strained relations and potential loss of money and friendships.
Step-by-step explanation:
Laertes should avoid both borrowing and lending because these actions can lead to a loss of personal integrity and one's financial independence. By borrowing, one becomes a slave to the lender, creating an obligation that can strain or dictate one's future actions and decisions. In lending, one risks losing both money and friendships if the borrower fails to repay. The advice to avoid borrowing and lending underscores the theme of moral and financial prudence, emphasizing that it is wise not to tie one's wellbeing to the unpredictable actions of others, and to maintain autonomy over one's finances and relationships. Additionally, being overly concerned with wealth and possessions can corrupt, as wealth can lead to dishonesty, greed, and societal ills, such as sacking cities, warping innocence, and enticing individuals to commit crimes for financial gain.