a man is judged by the company he keeps

a man is judged by the company he keeps

proverb A person tends to be very similar in attitude, character, ability, or personality to the people with whom they associate or spend time. I'm not surprised he turned out to be so conniving and disloyal—just look at the degenerates he hangs around with. A man is judged by the company he keeps. If a man is judged by the company he keeps, then it is fair to say that this young director has a bright future ahead indeed.
See also: by, company, he, judge, keep, man
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • a man is known by the company he keeps
  • teach a man to fish
  • birds of a feather
  • birds of a feather (flock together)
  • BOF
  • it takes a village
  • village
  • an ounce of discretion is worth a pound of wit
  • the best-laid plans go astray
  • the best-laid plans of mice and men