--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is a peculiar characteristic of people…" description: "\"“It is a peculiar characteristic of people that for some inexplicable reason they feel nice about themselves when they cite their acquaintance with the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec1/b-s-murthy-31050_acquaintances_it-is-a-peculiar-characteristic-of-peopl_984291.jpg" --- # It is a peculiar characteristic of people that for some… ![“It is a peculiar characteristic of people that for some inexplicable reason they feel nice about themselves when they cite their acquaintance with the successful.” quote by B.S. Murthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec1/b-s-murthy-31050_acquaintances_it-is-a-peculiar-characteristic-of-peopl_984291.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec1/b-s-murthy-31050_acquaintances_it-is-a-peculiar-characteristic-of-peopl_984291.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec1/b-s-murthy-31050_acquaintances_it-is-a-peculiar-characteristic-of-peopl_984291.jpg) > ““It is a peculiar characteristic of people that for some inexplicable reason they feel nice about themselves when they cite their acquaintance with the successful.”” [B.S. Murthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-s-murthy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often boost self‑esteem by associating with successful individuals, even without personal achievement. **In simple terms:** Self‑esteem rises through successful connections. Key Takeaway Seek genuine growth, not just association. Themes self‑esteem social comparison validation Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - networking events - career advancement - social media - team projects Key Concepts psychology status seeking identity Questions to Reflect On - Do you value your own achievements? - How can you build confidence without external validation? A Different Perspective Relying on others' success may hinder personal development. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acquaintances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acquaintances/) [Human nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-nature/) [Name dropping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/name-dropping/) [Success quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success-quotes/) ## Related quotes > [“Imprudent people accumulate adversaries, intelligent people accumulate acquaintances, and enlightened people accumulate friends.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/imprudent-people-accumulate-adversaries-intelligent-people-accumulate/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [“In poverty, friends are few; in prosperity, acquaintances are numerous; in affluence, associates are countless.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/in-poverty-friends-are-few-in-prosperity-acquaintances-are-numerous/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [“Learn from acquaintances, and you are clever; from friends, and you are intelligent; from enemies, and you are shrewd; but learn from all, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/learn-from-acquaintances-and-you-are-clever-from-friends-and-you-are/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [“It is wise to buy acquaintances, but foolish to buy friends.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/it-is-wise-to-buy-acquaintances-but-foolish-to-buy-friends/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [“One who thinks for himself is a threat to his enemies, a refuge to his acquaintances, a prize to his friends, and a gift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/one-who-thinks-for-himself-is-a-threat-to-his-enemies-a-refuge-to-his/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [“Those who laugh with you when you laugh are acquaintances, those who cry with you when you cry are companions, and those who do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/those-who-laugh-with-you-when-you-laugh-are-acquaintances-those-who/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [It's not name dropping, but not many people can say, like me, that they spent the day with the likes of Francis Bacon or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-bernard/it-s-not-name-dropping-but-not-many-people-can-say-like-me-that-they/) [Jeffrey Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-bernard/) > [This has never been a popularity contest. The people we care for and work with know who they are and how we feel about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-has-never-been-a-popularity-contest-the-people-we-care-for-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“When some name dropping and eye-rolling chin-strokers are trying to snow us under with an avalanche of swollen narratives, we must never resist puncturing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-pevernagie/when-some-name-dropping-and-eye-rolling-chin-strokers-are-trying-to/) [Erik Pevernagie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-pevernagie/) > [“Someone has said,”Education is going from an unconscious to conscious awareness of one’s ignorance.”..No one has a corner on wisdom. All the name-dropping in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/someone-has-said-education-is-going-from-an-unconscious-to-conscious/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Jesus is great -- is there a better role model? No. It's religion, it's the people who get in between -- the bureaucracy, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/jesus-is-great-is-there-a-better-role-model-no-it-s-religion-it-s-the/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [“You know you made it, when people you know, tell people they know, that you know them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/you-know-you-made-it-when-people-you-know-tell-people-they-know-that/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [I was only saying to the Queen the other day how I hate name dropping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-fairbanks-jr/i-was-only-saying-to-the-queen-the-other-day-how-i-hate-name-dropping/) [Douglas Fairbanks, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-fairbanks-jr/) > [“You know you made it, when your friends tell their friends that you are their friend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/you-know-you-made-it-when-your-friends-tell-their-friends-that-you/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [Name dropping means they are not your friend. It means you are using them for selfish gain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/name-dropping-means-they-are-not-your-friend-it-means-you-are-using/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by B.S. Murthy > [“It is its sanctification of the base human instincts that makes Islam the menace of all mankind”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-s-murthy/it-is-its-sanctification-of-the-base-human-instincts-that-makes-islam/) [B.S. Murthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-s-murthy/) > [“If not for 02 October being the national holiday, would any notice Gandhi’s birthday coming and going; I bet none remembers in which year…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-s-murthy/if-not-for-02-october-being-the-national-holiday-would-any-notice/) [B.S. Murthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-s-murthy/) > [“I happened to pen some literature, alas, in an utterly unliterary era.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-s-murthy/i-happened-to-pen-some-literature-alas-in-an-utterly-unliterary-era/) [B.S. Murthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-s-murthy/) > [“Insecurity is the unsettling companion of success.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-s-murthy/insecurity-is-the-unsettling-companion-of-success/) [B.S. Murthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-s-murthy/) > [“What an irony that modern man, engaged as he is in the pursuit of knowledge, allows himself to be stymied by the dogmas of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-s-murthy/what-an-irony-that-modern-man-engaged-as-he-is-in-the-pursuit-of/) [B.S. Murthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-s-murthy/) > [“It’s not the hurt that others cause to us that counts, but our response to it that matters; if a positive outlook helps us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-s-murthy/it-s-not-the-hurt-that-others-cause-to-us-that-counts-but-our/) [B.S. Murthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-s-murthy/) > [“In the human mind, doubt has a faster rate of growth than even hope, and we know what that meant for poor Desdemona.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-s-murthy/in-the-human-mind-doubt-has-a-faster-rate-of-growth-than-even-hope/) [B.S. Murthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-s-murthy/) > [“It’s the weird fate of illicit love to cohabit with lies. But what a paradox it is that a noble sentiment like love needs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-s-murthy/it-s-the-weird-fate-of-illicit-love-to-cohabit-with-lies-but-what-a/) [B.S. Murthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-s-murthy/) > [“The echoes of a radical idea could gain decibels as time passes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-s-murthy/the-echoes-of-a-radical-idea-could-gain-decibels-as-time-passes/) [B.S. Murthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-s-murthy/) > [“Material means that hide man's meanness fail to reflect his moral richness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-s-murthy/material-means-that-hide-man-s-meanness-fail-to-reflect-his-moral/) [B.S. Murthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-s-murthy/) > [“Novels expose man to the nuances of life through the thought process of their protagonists to form the foundation for its understanding and thus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-s-murthy/novels-expose-man-to-the-nuances-of-life-through-the-thought-process/) [B.S. Murthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-s-murthy/) > [“Why is life hard on some while being soft on others? It would appear as if it feels a monotonous regimen would bore people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-s-murthy/why-is-life-hard-on-some-while-being-soft-on-others-it-would-appear/) [B.S. Murthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-s-murthy/) > [“It’s the behavioral pattern with many, in that having committed an indiscretion in the first place; they tend to assume an aggressive posture to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-s-murthy/it-s-the-behavioral-pattern-with-many-in-that-having-committed-an/) [B.S. Murthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-s-murthy/) > [“While researchers strive to expand the frontiers of human faculties, the products of their endeavors tend to dull the creative urge of mankind at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-s-murthy/while-researchers-strive-to-expand-the-frontiers-of-human-faculties/) [B.S. Murthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-s-murthy/) > [“Death is the most formidable adventure of life for it forays into the unknown.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-s-murthy/death-is-the-most-formidable-adventure-of-life-for-it-forays-into-the/) [B.S. Murthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-s-murthy/) [Explore all 17 B.S. Murthy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-s-murthy/) ## More Acquaintances quotes > [“But by the time those acquaintances became close friends, it was too late. Perhaps there was a perfect moment in between, when you were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-frankel/but-by-the-time-those-acquaintances-became-close-friends-it-was-too/) [Laurie Frankel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-frankel/) > [I have a few very close friends, then I have some good friends, lots of acquaintances and a large mass of people I tolerate!..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-have-a-few-very-close-friends-then-i-have-some-good-friends-lots-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“But I believe we don't know folks, we're acquainted with them. There's always something in an individual you ain't never going to know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-fay-greene/but-i-believe-we-don-t-know-folks-we-re-acquainted-with-them-there-s/) [Melissa Fay Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-fay-greene/) > [With politics, everyone - your neighbour, acquaintances, anyone you ever meet - has an opinion. Particularly about what Arvind Kejriwal should be doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atishi/with-politics-everyone-your-neighbour-acquaintances-anyone-you-ever/) [Atishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atishi/) > [“Mr. Severin smiled, tiny constellations of reflected chandelier lights glinting in his eyes. "Since I've told you about my tastes... what are yours?" Cassandra…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/mr-severin-smiled-tiny-constellations-of-reflected-chandelier-lights/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [I use to have lots of friends; now I have less, but much more acquaintances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anag/i-use-to-have-lots-of-friends-now-i-have-less-but-much-more/) AnaG > [“Acquaintances, in sort, represent a source of social power, and the more acquaintances you have the more powerful you are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/acquaintances-in-sort-represent-a-source-of-social-power-and-the-more/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [Who is everywhere is nowhere. When a person spends all his time in foreign travel, he ends by having many acquaintances, but no friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/who-is-everywhere-is-nowhere-when-a-person-spends-all-his-time-in/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Pessimism, she is a fond friend of yours, yes?" - That's uncalled for. I barely know her. Mere acquaintances, at best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/pessimism-she-is-a-fond-friend-of-yours-yes-that-s-uncalled-for-i/) [Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/) > [I love the acquaintance of young people; because, in the first place, I do not like to think myself growing old. In the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/i-love-the-acquaintance-of-young-people-because-in-the-first-place-i/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Acquaintances represent a source of social power, and the more acquaintances you have the more powerful you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/acquaintances-represent-a-source-of-social-power-and-the-more/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [We may have many acquaintances, but we can have but few friends; this made Aristotle say that he that hath many friends hath none.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/we-may-have-many-acquaintances-but-we-can-have-but-few-friends-this/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“Saying that you do not remember something or someone is a less embarrassing or hurtful way of saying that you do not know it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/saying-that-you-do-not-remember-something-or-someone-is-a-less/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“Friends are not a number. You can't collect connections. You can't just go out one day and be like, "Hey, I need some friends!"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connor-franta/friends-are-not-a-number-you-can-t-collect-connections-you-can-t-just/) [Connor Franta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/connor-franta/) > [It suddenly seemed to me that I was lonely, that every one was forsaking me and going away from me. Of course, any one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-suddenly-seemed-to-me-that-i-was-lonely-that-every-one-was/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 130 Acquaintances quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acquaintances/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It is a peculiar characteristic of people that for some inexplicable reason they feel nice about themselves when they cite their acquaintance with the successful.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "B.S. 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