Notwithstanding the general judgment of this reading, this particular line refers to the situation of someone caught in an ambiguous situation, where existing relationships interfere with a direct struggle against negative forces. In such a situation, friend, you may have to use your position to turn things around, even though others impugn your motives, with the result that your reputation is muddied. If you keep your motivation pure, association with disruptive influences will keep you free of blame.
