Do you agree that a man is known by the company he keeps?

1. 80

   kallini2010posted 11 years ago

   Do you agree that a man is known by the company he keeps?
   
   Are we defined by our friendships or rather our friendships are mirrors of who we are?
   
   

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2. 71

   Mr. Happyposted 11 years ago

   We attract what we intend and what we believe. We are indeed "mirrors to one another".
   
   Cheers! : )

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3. 72

   Alastar Packerposted 11 years ago

   Believe so in some cases it used to be in business. My VP would take a prospective employee out to dinner with their wife or girl-friend invited. If the prospect salted his meal before tasting it that was one mark against him. If his wife or lady wasn't up to snuff in intelligence, ambition, and people skills he wouldn't be hired.

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   1. 80

      kallini2010posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      That is very interesting in a humiliating kind of way. But it is hard to know people unless we down a 8 (or 16?) kilos of salt with them.  Or so the Russian proverb goes.

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   2. 92

      Sherry Hewinsposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      The salt part seems ridiculous to me, what kind of way is that to judge a person. As to his wife, if she were expected to perform some social function for the company it might be relevant.

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   3. 80

      kallini2010posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I think, salting food before tasting it might be interpreted as a negative trait. Modifying something before even knowing what it is...  I find such behaviour bizarre as well.  My own father seasons his food without tasting and it drives me insane.

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   4. 72

      Alastar Packerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Sherry I never got the salt thing either but he might of had something concerning what kind of woman a man chooses as a partner. kallini that's a good point - he made an exception though 'cause the underling he admired most did it.

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      kallini2010posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      There must be a consolation for whatever test one "fails" to get a job, there is a good chance that one is not really "good" for the company that is hiring.  After all, the idea is to find the best match. We choose people right for us, tricks or not.

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4. 68

   mvillecatposted 11 years ago

   I fully agree that the people we associate with reflect our own personal values and interests. My parents told me a thousand times growing up that we are the company that we keep and the older I've become, I know it to be the truth.

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5. 57

   baygirl33posted 11 years ago

   I don't agree that man is known by the company he keeps.
   Some people just live near people that need help. If a person volunteers in a shelter and becomes friendly with people who are down on their luck,that does not mean that that person is the same..
   Remember Jesus?

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6. 37

   edhanposted 11 years ago

   It is a sort of affinity that we are attracted to one another. We start as one and now grew to billions.

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7. 95

   cat on a soapboxposted 11 years ago

   Yes, I think we really are judged by the company we keep, especially as a basis for those who don't know us well. This is a reason why parents don't want kids to hang w/ the wrong crowd because it will affect reputation which is hard to reverse. This really is a superficial view because many people have an assortment of friends and can't be so easily "pegged."  Unfortunately, it is human nature to make assumptions.

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   CJ Sledgehammerposted 11 years ago

   Yes, I think in many respects we are defined by the company we keep and the friendships we forge tend to be mirror images of ourselves.
   
   The Holy Bible states that "Bad company corrupts good character" and infers that a man is known by the company he keeps. In almost all cases, "Birds of a feather flock together" but there must be a good reason for this such as: closeness, compatibility, unity of purpose, security, comfort or commonalities.
   
   There is a difference between helping people in the community and forging "friendships" with them. Christ Yeshua spoke with the "salt of the earth", but He never hung out with them...as bosom buddies do.

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9. 65

   Tusitala Tomposted 11 years ago

   There is an old saying, "Birds of a feather flock together," which refers to the phenemenon that we tend to associate with our own kind, our 'own kind' being based upon a number of things: where we work at the time, what our interests are, and what our social-economic status is for example.
   
   It is very unlikely  that you will find people who have been brought up in wealth, gone to the best schools, and attained to upper middle management in their first jobs, perhaps due to nepotism or an 'old boy' network, will habitually associate with blue collar workers - unless, of course, they happen to be employing them, and then it would be a boss to employee relationship.  So the money and educational side of things does enter into it.
   
   Likewise, if a man is raised by parents who tend towards criminality and these are his role models, he could well spend a lot of time associating with people who aren't going to affect him in positive ways.   So our environment, especially that environment we were subjected to in our formative years, also play a important part.   This is not to say that a sudden spiritual insight, or introduction to a good mentor won't change things around.  Even such a thing as 'discovering reading' can work wonders.
   
   Sporting interests come into it as well.  A person might be a particular able sportsman or woman and thereby find themselves 'crossing the economic divide line.'   Everyone loves a champion no matter what there background.
   
   All manner of things come into it but, generally speaking, the adage holds true: "Birds of a feather flock together."

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10. 80

    dghbrhposted 11 years ago

    Yes i do believe in that as all are very easy with friends and natural self.
    Thanks

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11. 73

    backporchstoriesposted 11 years ago

    Absolutely!  We may cross the lines from time to time, through various relationships, but the majority of the characters that surround our lives, tend to leave impressions that continue to form us as we go through time.  Also, iike tends to attract like, even though opposites can be an occasional compliment!

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    ReneeDC1979posted 11 years ago

    I agree in general we are known by the company we keep.  This world is very judgemental and forms opinions based on the outward appearance or by gossip and what they hear about a person.  It is funny how many times people have said, "When I first met you I thought you were mean because you weren't smiling!"

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    Violet Flameposted 11 years ago

    I guess it is so only to a degree. It will say something of a person but definitely not all. But I must tell you how much I LOVE this very well chosen illustration for this very interesting question and would you mind telling me who the artist is. :-D

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    1. 80

       kallini2010posted 11 years agoin reply to this

       I happen to agree with you, that our friends and our company tell only so much about us. There is always more than appears on the surface.  I don't know the artist's name, the site where I take pictures works as a bookmarking only without credit.

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14. 92

    Sherry Hewinsposted 11 years ago

    I don't think so. For one thing, you can't choose your family. I know many children who have grown up to be very different from their parents and the background they were born into. My husband and I are very different in personality and opinion; if someone judges me by him I think they would miss the mark. Many people are still friends with people they grew up with even though their lives have taken different paths. The people you choose to associate with on a daily basis may say something about you, but people should be judged on their own merits.

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    Deepes Mindposted 11 years ago

    No, A man is not known by the company he keeps. He is JUDGED by the company that he keeps

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    1. 80

       kallini2010posted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Yes, it sounds true enough.

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