--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As with companions so with books. We may…" description: "\"“As with companions so with books. We may choose those which will make us better, more intelligent, more appreciative of the good and the beautiful in ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/576/david-o-mckay-2062_appreciative_as-with-companions-so-with-books-we-may_1371933.jpg" --- # As with companions so with books. We may choose those… ![“As with companions so with books. We may choose those which will make us better, more intelligent, more appreciative of the good and the beautiful in the world, or we may choose the trashy, the vulgar, the obscene, which will make us feel as though we've been 'wallowing in the mire.” quote by David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/576/david-o-mckay-2062_appreciative_as-with-companions-so-with-books-we-may_1371933.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/576/david-o-mckay-2062_appreciative_as-with-companions-so-with-books-we-may_1371933.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/576/david-o-mckay-2062_appreciative_as-with-companions-so-with-books-we-may_1371933.jpg) > ““As with companions so with books. We may choose those which will make us better, more intelligent, more appreciative of the good and the beautiful in the world, or we may choose the trashy, the vulgar, the obscene, which will make us feel as though we've been 'wallowing in the mire.”” [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing reading material shapes character and perception; good books elevate mind and spirit, while low‑quality works degrade them. **In simple terms:** What you read influences who you become. Key Takeaway Select enriching books, avoid harmful ones. Themes education character culture choice media Mood reflective inspirational Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - personal growth - academic study - parental guidance - media consumption Key Concepts literature moral development intellectual growth Questions to Reflect On - What books have changed your outlook? - How do you discern valuable reading? A Different Perspective Even good books can be misinterpreted without critical thinking. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Appreciative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appreciative/) [Beautiful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beautiful/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Books Choose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books-choose-3587022/) [Choose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choose/) [Choose Trashy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choose-trashy-825531/) [Companion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/companion/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Intelligent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligent/) [Intelligent Appreciative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligent-appreciative-4727653/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Obscene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obscene/) [Vulgar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vulgar/) [Wallowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wallowing/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [World Choose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-choose/) ## Related quotes > [“We've all got trashy friends, but we should choose our trashy friends with more care.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominick-dunne/we-ve-all-got-trashy-friends-but-we-should-choose-our-trashy-friends/) [Dominick Dunne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominick-dunne/) > [You think you choose the subjects of your books. But sometimes, in ways you don't know, the books choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-moehringer/you-think-you-choose-the-subjects-of-your-books-but-sometimes-in-ways/) [J. R. Moehringer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-moehringer/) > [“That’s why I live inside books. At least there I can choose where I want to be— from the highlands of Scotland to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aurora-rose-reynolds/that-s-why-i-live-inside-books-at-least-there-i-can-choose-where-i/) [Aurora Rose Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aurora-rose-reynolds/) > [Books choose their authors; the act of creation is not entirely a rational and conscious one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/books-choose-their-authors-the-act-of-creation-is-not-entirely-a-2/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [You will learn more from your friends than you ever will from books. Choose your friends wisely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-kelly/you-will-learn-more-from-your-friends-than-you-ever-will-from-books/) [Matthew Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-kelly/) > [“Keep your nose in a book – and keep other people's noses out of which books you choose to stick your nose into!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/art-spiegelman/keep-your-nose-in-a-book-and-keep-other-people-s-noses-out-of-which/) [Art Spiegelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/art-spiegelman/) > [“Books choose their authors; the act of creation is not entirely a rational and conscious one." ―Salman Rushdie”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-denney/books-choose-their-authors-the-act-of-creation-is-not-entirely-a/) [Jim Denney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-denney/) > [He who lets the world choose his plan of life for him has need of no other faculty than that of ape-like imitation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/he-who-lets-the-world-choose-his-plan-of-life-for-him-has-need-of-no/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [“I didn't want a world in which I had to choose between blind human babies and tortured monkey ones. To be frank, that's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-joy-fowler/i-didn-t-want-a-world-in-which-i-had-to-choose-between-blind-human/) [Karen Joy Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-joy-fowler/) > [If someone could have be anywhere in the world but choose to be with you, its cuz you are special to them, make sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaze-olamiday/if-someone-could-have-be-anywhere-in-the-world-but-choose-to-be-with/) [Blaze Olamiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaze-olamiday/) > [“Isn’t this the whole meaning of life in this world: To choose between bondage to the material world and believing that your life comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tzvi-freeman/isn-t-this-the-whole-meaning-of-life-in-this-world-to-choose-between/) [Tzvi Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tzvi-freeman/) > [If I could choose from all the step dads in the world, I'd choose you!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-i-could-choose-from-all-the-step-dads-in-the-world-i-d-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“So, with all the wide world to choose from, you didn't choose at all. You simply stopped wandering one day”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/so-with-all-the-wide-world-to-choose-from-you-didn-t-choose-at-all/) [Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/) > [If I had to choose between you and everything in the world, I would choose you cause then I'd have more then everything in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-i-had-to-choose-between-you-and-everything-in-the-world-i-would/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Either you soften your ego, or the world will do it for you. Choose!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bert-mccoy/either-you-soften-your-ego-or-the-world-will-do-it-for-you-choose/) [Bert McCoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bert-mccoy/) ## More by David O. McKay > [But there is a beauty every girl has—a gift from God, as pure as the sunlight, and as sacred as life. It is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/but-there-is-a-beauty-every-girl-has-a-gift-from-god-as-pure-as-the/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [Free agency is a gift of God…The world does not comprehend the significance of that divine gift to the individual. It is as inherent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/free-agency-is-a-gift-of-god-the-world-does-not-comprehend-the/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [The latest I like to be to meeting is 15 minutes early](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/the-latest-i-like-to-be-to-meeting-is-15-minutes-early/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [Adversity itself may lead toward and not away from God and spiritual enlightenment; and privation may prove a source of strength if we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/adversity-itself-may-lead-toward-and-not-away-from-god-and-spiritual/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [No parent can consistently teach faith in Christ who profanes the name of Deity. Profanity is never heard in the well-ordered home. Swearing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/no-parent-can-consistently-teach-faith-in-christ-who-profanes-the/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [ \[One\] principle that actuated the lives of the fathers who founded our Constitution was faith in God. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/one-principle-that-actuated-the-lives-of-the-fathers-who-founded-our/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [“No thing worth while is obtained in this life without sacrificing, without putting forth effort. The evil one thrusts things upon us but God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/no-thing-worth-while-is-obtained-in-this-life-without-sacrificing/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [There are seeds of happiness in every soul. Our mental attitude and dispositions constitute the environment in which these seeds germinate. There is as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/there-are-seeds-of-happiness-in-every-soul-our-mental-attitude-and/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [The most powerful thing in the world is an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/the-most-powerful-thing-in-the-world-is-an-idea/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [He who harbors hatred and bitterness injures himself far more than the one towards whom he manifests these evil propensities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/he-who-harbors-hatred-and-bitterness-injures-himself-far-more-than/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [The Gospel of Jesus Christ can make bad men good and good men better, can alter human nature, and can change human lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/the-gospel-of-jesus-christ-can-make-bad-men-good-and-good-men-better/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [The basis of all sin is selfishness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/the-basis-of-all-sin-is-selfishness/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [“When you are tempted to stay away from that seventies' meeting, from that elder's meeting, from that deacons' quorum and you shrink from going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/when-you-are-tempted-to-stay-away-from-that-seventies-meeting-from/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [And what is true education? It is awakening a love for truth; giving a just sense of duty; opening the eyes of the soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/and-what-is-true-education-it-is-awakening-a-love-for-truth-giving-a/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [Today, as never before, the issue is clearly defined-liberty and freedom of choice, or oppression and subjugation for the individual and for nations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/today-as-never-before-the-issue-is-clearly-defined-liberty-and/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) [Explore all 188 David O. McKay quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) ## More Appreciative quotes > [My college experience was like everyone else's. I learned a lot. I gained a new perspective on the world and on people that I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-carpenter/my-college-experience-was-like-everyone-else-s-i-learned-a-lot-i/) [Kyle Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-carpenter/) > [I felt my personal life was not what it should be. It had nothing to do with Mr. Show - I'm monstrously appreciative and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-odenkirk/i-felt-my-personal-life-was-not-what-it-should-be-it-had-nothing-to/) [Bob Odenkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-odenkirk/) > [Share your enthusiasm with the collector's enthusiasm for the work, and discover things together. Be nice and appreciative and at the same time give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-kostabi/share-your-enthusiasm-with-the-collector-s-enthusiasm-for-the-work/) [Mark Kostabi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-kostabi/) > [As a member of the House Committee on Small Business and because of my own experience as a small business owner, I am appreciative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-bean/as-a-member-of-the-house-committee-on-small-business-and-because-of/) [Melissa Bean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-bean/) > [I'm very appreciative to the people of Atlanta, forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-horford/i-m-very-appreciative-to-the-people-of-atlanta-forever/) [Al Horford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-horford/) > [“Let us be appreciative of all the beauties and blessings of our lives.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/let-us-be-appreciative-of-all-the-beauties-and-blessings-of-our-lives/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [Work hard. Don’t quit. Be appreciative, be thankful, be grateful, be respectful. Also, never whine, never complain. And always, for crying out loud, keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-keaton/work-hard-don-t-quit-be-appreciative-be-thankful-be-grateful-be/) [Michael Keaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-keaton/) > [“Not that I regret my previous choice. It’s only that the anticipation of killing has me feeling particularly appreciative of youth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christa-faust/not-that-i-regret-my-previous-choice-it-s-only-that-the-anticipation/) [Christa Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christa-faust/) > [The thing that is cool about my come up is that I dealt with fame and having money gradually. It didn't happen overnight. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-songz/the-thing-that-is-cool-about-my-come-up-is-that-i-dealt-with-fame-and/) [Trey Songz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-songz/) > [One of my obsession is animals. I'm into dog rescues. It drives me crazy when people go to pet stores and buy dogs. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-o-heir/one-of-my-obsession-is-animals-i-m-into-dog-rescues-it-drives-me/) [Jim O'Heir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-o-heir/) > [“If you do not find the deed producing a sweetness or expansion in your heart, then blame it. For the Lord, Exalted is He,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abd-al-rahman-al-sa-di/if-you-do-not-find-the-deed-producing-a-sweetness-or-expansion-in/) [Abd al-Rahman al-Sa'di](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abd-al-rahman-al-sa-di/) > [I seem to have very few casual readers, only passionate and appreciative ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/i-seem-to-have-very-few-casual-readers-only-passionate-and/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [I was able to learn a lot in my first four years in the league at a very high level, and I'm appreciative and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-poole/i-was-able-to-learn-a-lot-in-my-first-four-years-in-the-league-at-a/) [Jordan Poole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-poole/) > [I think that people with differing points of view find common ground in 'Modern Family' is very flattering, and I'm appreciative of that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-levitan/i-think-that-people-with-differing-points-of-view-find-common-ground/) [Steven Levitan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-levitan/) > [“Commonplaces never become tiresome. It is we who become tired when we cease to be curious and appreciative. We find that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-rockwell/commonplaces-never-become-tiresome-it-is-we-who-become-tired-when-we/) [Norman Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-rockwell/) [Browse all 258 Appreciative quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appreciative/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“As with companions so with books. We may choose those which will make us better, more intelligent, more appreciative of the good and the beautiful in the world, or we may choose the trashy, the vulgar, the obscene, which will make us feel as though we've been 'wallowing in the mire.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David O. 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