plural

On my 15th birthday, he informed me, that I was becoming a man, as such he would pass on the four pieces of advice his grandfather had given him.

He took me aside and handed me my birthday present which was a straight razor shaving kit,
and proceeded to dispense this advice.

1) Do not go side to side

2) Never trust a woman with cold lips

3) You are a jerk, it is part of being a man, if you are lucky, you will find a woman who can appreciate your failings, do not fail her.

4) Get Married, if you are lucky you will be divinely happy, if you are unlucky, you will become a philosopher.

While this obscure and sage advice stuck with me, I look back and realize, these few words consisted of the vast majority of the word exchanged between us.