proverb · Words worth keeping
A man is known by the company he keeps.
A man is known by the company he keeps.
Historical period not yet established
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
The saying judges a person through the company they keep. It suggests that chosen associations can influence how someone is perceived.
What the words are saying
Known makes companions sound like sufficient evidence of character. A responsible reading considers the actual relationship and conduct instead of assigning guilt by association. People may differ from their companions, and contact may not be freely chosen.
Everyday example
A reader asks what a person actually did rather than relying only on who they know.
When to use it
Use it to examine perceptions of association without treating them as proof.
What it does not mean
Companionship alone does not establish character, agreement or wrongdoing.
Agent-assisted editorial interpretation. This explains the words; it does not by itself verify their author or earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- Historical period not yet established
No sufficiently supported historical placement has been established. Import and download dates are not treated as composition dates. - Recorded source
- Contributor-provided proverb reference
Supplied reference A; unit 455; PDF page 67
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.