Robert Christy, comp. Proverbs, Maxims and Phrases of All Ages. 1887.
Company
A boon companion halves the longest way.Bulwer.
A man knows his companion in a long journey or a little inn.
A man would not be alone even in paradise.
A good companion makes a heaven out of hell.German.
A good companion makes good company.Spanish.
An agreeable companion on the road is as good as a coach.
Bad companions quickly corrupt the good.German.
“Bad company,” said the thief as he went to the gallows between the hangman and a monk.
Better alone than in bad company.
Better to be beaten than to be in bad company.
Birds of a feather flock together.
Company in distress makes trouble less.French.
Company in misery makes it light.
For a good companion good company.Spanish.
For want of company welcome trumpery.
Go not to hell for company.
Good company makes short miles.Dutch.
He keeps his road well enough who gets rid of bad company.
He that lies down with dogs will get up with fleas.French, Italian, Spanish, Danish.
He that walketh with the virtuous is one of them.
He who goes with wolves learns to howl.Spanish.
If you sit down with a lame man you will learn to halt.Modern Greek.
If you sit with one who squints, before evening you will become cat-eyed.Modern Greek.
Ill company is like a dog who dirts those most whom he loves best.Swift.
Keep good company and you shall be of the number.Portuguese.
Keep company with good men and good men you’ll imitate.Chinese.
Keep company with good men and good men you’ll learn to be.Chinese.
Kend fowks nae company.
Let men take heed of their company.Shakespeare.
Never be with a bad man.Chinese.
No road is long with good company.Turkish.
One takes the color of one’s company. Literal: Near vermillion one gets stained pink, near ink one gets stained black.Chinese.
One takes the odor of one’s company. Literal: Near putrid fish you’ll stink, near the epidendrum you’ll be fragrant.Chinese.
One rotten apple in the basket infects the rest.Dutch.
Pleasant company alone makes this life tolerable.Spanish.
Present company is always excepted.
Show me your company and I’ll tell thee what thou art.Don Quixote.
Tell me the company you keep and I’ll tell you what you are.French, Italian, Spanish, Dutch.
Tell me with whom you go and I’ll tell you your value.Modern Greek.
Tell me with whom thou goest, and I’ll tell thee what thou doest.
The best company must part as King Dagobert said to his hounds.French.
The company keeper has almost as many snares as companions.
The later the evening the fairer the company.
The rotten apple spoils its companions.Spanish.
The third person makes good company.Dutch.
We should only associate with our equals.La Fontaine.
When you are in vicious company you are among your enemies.
Who keeps company with the wolf will learn to howl.
Wicked companions invite us to hell.Fielding.
With the good we become good.Dutch.
You may know him by the company he keeps.