Never touch your idols: the gilding will stick to your fingers."(Il ne faut pas toucher aux idoles: la dorure en reste aux mains.)

The denigration of those we love always detaches us from them in some degree. Never touch your idols: the gilding will stick to your fingers.

But vilifying those we love always alienates us from them to a certain extent. Idols should not be touched: the gilding comes off on the hands.

We must not touch our idols; the gilt sticks to our fingers.

We should not touch our idols: their gilding will remain on our hands.