It is meet that noble minds keep ever with their likes; for who so firm that cannot be seduced.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
If thy associates be insane, be thou sensible.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
A man without a fitting companion is like the left hand without the right.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
A man should live with his superiors as he does with his fire; not too near, lest he burn; not too far off, lest he freeze.
—Diogenes Laertius (f.3rd Century CE) Biographer of the Greek Philosophers
We gain nothing by being with such as ourselves: we encourage each other in mediocrity.—I am always longing to be with men more excellent than myself.
—Charles Lamb (1775–1834) British Essayist, Poet
Ever associate with the good.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
It is certain that either wise bearing or ignorant carriage is caught, as men take diseases, one of another; therefore let men take heed of their company.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
If you wish to be held in esteem, you must associate only with those who are estimable.
—Jean de La Bruyere (1645–96) French Satiric Moralist, Author
He is a good man whose intimate friends are all good, and whose enemies are decidedly bad.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater (1741–1801) Swiss Theologian, Poet
It is beautiful and rejoicing to see grapes on the vine; it is ugly and repugnant to see grapes on a thorn-bush.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
In all societies, it is advisable to associate if possible with the highest; not that the highest are always the best, but because, if disgusted there, we can descend at any time; but if we begin with the lowest, to ascend is impossible.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
No company is preferable to bad, because we are more apt to catch the vices of others than their virtues, as disease is far more contagious than health.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
When the iron was created the trees commenced to tremble. The iron, however, said to them: “What are you trembling at? If none of your wood will join me, I will remain harmless”.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
Frequent intercourse and intimate connection between two persons, make them so alike, that not only their dispositions are moulded like each other, but their very faces and tones of voice contract a similarity.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater (1741–1801) Swiss Theologian, Poet
Tell me with whom thou art found, and I will tell thee who thou art.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
It is but a step from companionship to slavery when one associates with vice.
—Hosea Ballou (1771–1852) American Theologian
Those unacquainted with the world take pleasure in intimacy with great men; those who are wiser fear the consequences.
—Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–8 BCE) Roman Poet
If you touch pitch, it will stick to your fingers; even so, if you associate with evil companions, you will acquire their vices.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
Not without reason goes the crow to the raven, but because it is of its kind.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
It the best to be with those in time, that we hope to be with in eternity.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
We may say to the bee, neither thy honey nor thy sting.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
Choose the company of your superiors whenever you can have it; that is the right and true pride.
—Earl of Chesterfield (1694–1773) English Statesman, Man of Letters
No man can be provident of his time, who is not prudent in the choice of his company.
—Jeremy Taylor
It must be that evil communications corrupt good dispositions.
—Menander (c.343–c.291 BCE) Greek Comic Dramatist, Poet
Company, villainous company, hath been the spoil of me.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Associate not with the wicked man, even if thou canst learn from him.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
Every beast associates with its kind, but man only with his equal. What can combine wolf with the sheep? So is the impious with the poor. Would the hyena associate with the dog? So the wealthy with the poor. The wild ass is torn to pieces by the lion, so the poor becomes the prey of the rich.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
From vagrants chit-chat, from rags vermia.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
When we live habitually with the wicked, we become necessarily their victims or their disciples; on the contrary, when we associate with the virtuous we form ourselves in imitation of their virtues, or at least lose, every day, something of our faults.
—Unknown
Birds of a feather flock together; and so with men—like to like.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
Leave a Reply