--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Associate yourself with men of good…" description: "\"Associate yourself with men of good quality, if you esteem your reputation. Be not apt to relate news, if you know not the truth thereof. Speak no evil..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6e/george-washington-257_absent_associate-yourself-with-men-of-good-qual_2318962.jpg" --- # Associate yourself with men of good quality, if you esteem… ![“Associate yourself with men of good quality, if you esteem your reputation. Be not apt to relate news, if you know not the truth thereof. Speak no evil of the absent, for it is unjust. Undertake not what you cannot perform, but be careful to keep your promise. There is but one straight course, and…” quote by George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6e/george-washington-257_absent_associate-yourself-with-men-of-good-qual_2318962.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6e/george-washington-257_absent_associate-yourself-with-men-of-good-qual_2318962.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6e/george-washington-257_absent_associate-yourself-with-men-of-good-qual_2318962.jpg) > “Associate yourself with men of good quality, if you esteem your reputation. Be not apt to relate news, if you know not the truth thereof. Speak no evil of the absent, for it is unjust. Undertake not what you cannot perform, but be careful to keep your promise. There is but one straight course, and that is to seek truth, and pursue it steadily. Nothing but harmony, honesty, industry and frugality are necessary to make us a great and happy nation.” [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Emphasizes integrity, truth, and modesty as foundations for personal and national greatness. **In simple terms:** Live honestly and keep promises, seek truth, avoid gossip and overreaching. Key Takeaway Cultivate reputation through truth and humility. Themes integrity truth humility national character Mood reflective inspirational Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - leadership - community building - political discourse - personal relationships Key Concepts ethical conduct social responsibility personal development Questions to Reflect On - How do you ensure honesty in daily interactions? - What steps help you keep promises? A Different Perspective May overlook practical constraints of ambition. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/esteem/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Frugality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frugality/) [Harmony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harmony/) [Honesty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honesty/) [Industry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/industry/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [News](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/news/) [Promise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/promise/) [Quality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quality/) [Reputation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reputation/) [Speak no evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak-no-evil/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [“Associate yourself with men of good quality, if you esteem your own reputation; for ‘tis better to be alone than in bad company.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/associate-yourself-with-men-of-good-quality-if-you-esteem-your-own-2/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Associate with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation; for it is better to be alone than in bad company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/associate-with-men-of-good-quality-if-you-esteem-your-own-reputation-2/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Associate yourself with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation. It is better be alone than in bad company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/associate-yourself-with-men-of-good-quality-if-you-esteem-your-own/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Associate with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/associate-with-men-of-good-quality-if-you-esteem-your-own-reputation/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Always concentrate on the most valuable use of your time. This is what separates the winners from the losers. Self-esteem is the reputation you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/always-concentrate-on-the-most-valuable-use-of-your-time-this-is-what/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [Self esteem is the reputation we acquire with ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/self-esteem-is-the-reputation-we-acquire-with-ourselves/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [Self-esteem is the reputation you have with yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/self-esteem-is-the-reputation-you-have-with-yourself/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [“Clemency, empathy, and leniency are the very chains that set us free. Fraternity and amity are our goals, our neighbors are our judges. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-amer/clemency-empathy-and-leniency-are-the-very-chains-that-set-us-free/) Mohamed Amer > [See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil. Rohypnol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carr/see-no-evil-hear-no-evil-speak-no-evil-rohypnol/) [Jimmy Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carr/) > [“when traumatic events are of human design, those who bear witness are caught in the conflict between victim and perpetrator. All the perpetrator asks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-lewis-herman/when-traumatic-events-are-of-human-design-those-who-bear-witness-are/) [Judith Lewis Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-lewis-herman/) > [As for monkeys, I would have five, and they would be named: See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil, Do Pretty Much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tad-williams/as-for-monkeys-i-would-have-five-and-they-would-be-named-see-no-evil/) [Tad Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tad-williams/) > [Speak no evil of the Lady Galadriel!" said Aragorn sternly. "You know not what you say. There is in her and in this land,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien-2/speak-no-evil-of-the-lady-galadriel-said-aragorn-sternly-you-know-not/) [J. R. R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien-2/) > [Speak no evil of women; I tell thee the meanest of them deserves respect; for of women do we not all come?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro-calder-n-de-la-barca/speak-no-evil-of-women-i-tell-thee-the-meanest-of-them-deserves/) [Pedro Calderon de la Barca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro-calder-n-de-la-barca/) > [Hear no evil, speak no evil, see no evil but then also do no evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-abraham/hear-no-evil-speak-no-evil-see-no-evil-but-then-also-do-no-evil/) [Amit Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-abraham/) > [We must regard Sarah Palin as the Carmella Soprano of the GOP -- an enabling wife of organized crime, who sees, hears and speaks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cintra-wilson/we-must-regard-sarah-palin-as-the-carmella-soprano-of-the-gop-an/) [Cintra Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cintra-wilson/) ## More by George Washington > [It is absolutely necessary... for me to have persons that can think for me, as well as execute orders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/it-is-absolutely-necessary-for-me-to-have-persons-that-can-think-for/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [The whole duty of man is summed up in obedience to God's will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-whole-duty-of-man-is-summed-up-in-obedience-to-god-s-will/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [The turning points of lives are not the great moments. The real crises are often concealed in occurrences so trivial in appearance that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-turning-points-of-lives-are-not-the-great-moments-the-real-crises/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [The propitious smiles of Heaven, can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right, which Heaven itself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-propitious-smiles-of-heaven-can-never-be-expected-on-a-nation/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Interwoven as is the love of liberty with every ligament of your hearts, no recommendation of mine is necessary to fortify or confirm the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/interwoven-as-is-the-love-of-liberty-with-every-ligament-of-your/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism who should labor to subvert these great pillars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/in-vain-would-that-man-claim-the-tribute-of-patriotism-who-should/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [The blessed Religion revealed in the word of God will remain an eternal and awful monument to prove that the best Institution may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-blessed-religion-revealed-in-the-word-of-god-will-remain-an/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [While we are contending for our own liberty, we should be very cautious not to violate the conscience of others, ever considering that God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/while-we-are-contending-for-our-own-liberty-we-should-be-very/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Among many other weighty objections to the Measure, it has been suggested, that it has a tendency to introduce religious disputes into the Army,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/among-many-other-weighty-objections-to-the-measure-it-has-been/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Democratical States must always feel before they can see: it is this that makes their Governments slow, but the people will be right at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/democratical-states-must-always-feel-before-they-can-see-it-is-this/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [If, in the opinion of the people, the distribution or modification of the constitutional powers be in any particular wrong, let it be corrected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/if-in-the-opinion-of-the-people-the-distribution-or-modification-of/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [A man's intentions should be allowed in some respects to plead for his actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/a-man-s-intentions-should-be-allowed-in-some-respects-to-plead-for/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible. Do not ever let anyone claim to be a true American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/it-is-impossible-to-rightly-govern-the-world-without-god-and-the/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [My first wish is to see this plague of mankind banished from the earth, and the sons and daughters of this world employed in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/my-first-wish-is-to-see-this-plague-of-mankind-banished-from-the/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Lenity will operate with greater force, in some instances, than rigor. It is, therefore, my first wish, to have my whole conduct distinguished by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/lenity-will-operate-with-greater-force-in-some-instances-than-rigor/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) [Explore all 801 George Washington quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) ## More Absent quotes > [Majority decisions tend to be made without engaging the systematic thought and critical thinking skills of the individuals in the group. Given the force…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/majority-decisions-tend-to-be-made-without-engaging-the-systematic/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In a general way, the literature of the twentieth century is essentially psychological; and psychology consists of describing states of the soul by displaying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/in-a-general-way-the-literature-of-the-twentieth-century-is/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [Emma was a shocking driver, simultaneously sloppy and petrified, and for the first fifty miles had been absent-mindedly driving with her spectacles on top…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/emma-was-a-shocking-driver-simultaneously-sloppy-and-petrified-and/) [David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/) > [They are enthusiasts, devotees. Addicts. Something about the circus stirs their souls, and they ache for it when it is absent. They seek each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/they-are-enthusiasts-devotees-addicts-something-about-the-circus/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [The interesting thing about an absent father is, for a child, you don't know he's absent. You just think he's... tardy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-majors/the-interesting-thing-about-an-absent-father-is-for-a-child-you-don-t/) [Jonathan Majors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-majors/) > [For my own part, I would rather be in company with a dead man than with an absent one; for if the dead man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-my-own-part-i-would-rather-be-in-company-with-a-dead-man-than/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If measure and symmetry are absent from any composition in any degree, ruin awaits both the ingredients and the composition... Measure and symmetry are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/if-measure-and-symmetry-are-absent-from-any-composition-in-any-degree/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [“You may not appreciate the presence of good health, but you will definitely regret the absence of good health, because health is happiness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/you-may-not-appreciate-the-presence-of-good-health-but-you-will/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [... if we are ashamed to imitate our Lord's sufferings, which He endured for us, and to suffer as He suffered, it is obvious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/symeon-the-new-theologian/if-we-are-ashamed-to-imitate-our-lord-s-sufferings-which-he-endured/) [Symeon the New Theologian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/symeon-the-new-theologian/) > [It's Simon, he's missing." Ahh." said Magnus delicately "Missing what exactly?" Missing!" Jace repeated "As in gone, absent, notable for his lack of presence,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/it-s-simon-he-s-missing-ahh-said-magnus-delicately-missing-what/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Anger clearly has its proper place at work, which is neither wholly absent nor ever present. The manager who is an emotional blank is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-baggini/anger-clearly-has-its-proper-place-at-work-which-is-neither-wholly/) [Julian Baggini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-baggini/) > [They were not mentioned in the Declaration of Independence, they were absent in the Constitution and they were invisible in the new political democracy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/they-were-not-mentioned-in-the-declaration-of-independence-they-were/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [Religion has always been a matter of community building; a matter of building precisely those relations of compassion, fellow feeling and - I dare…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-williams/religion-has-always-been-a-matter-of-community-building-a-matter-of/) [Rowan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-williams/) > [A FRIEND IS A PERSON . . . With whom you can be sincere. . . . To whom you never need to defend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-armand-montapert/a-friend-is-a-person-with-whom-you-can-be-sincere-to-whom-you-never/) [Alfred Armand Montapert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-armand-montapert/) > [The very serpents bite their tails; the bees forget to sting, For a language so celestial setteth up a wondering. And the touch of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathalia-crane/the-very-serpents-bite-their-tails-the-bees-forget-to-sting-for-a/) [Nathalia Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathalia-crane/) Browse all 490 Absent quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Associate yourself with men of good quality, if you esteem your reputation. Be not apt to relate news, if you know not the truth thereof. Speak no evil of the absent, for it is unjust. Undertake not what you cannot perform, but be careful to keep your promise. There is but one straight course, and that is to seek truth, and pursue it steadily. Nothing but harmony, honesty, industry and frugality are necessary to make us a great and happy nation.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "George Washington" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/associate-yourself-with-men-of-good-quality-if-you-esteem-your/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Absent" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/associate-yourself-with-men-of-good-quality-if-you-esteem-your/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6e/george-washington-257_absent_associate-yourself-with-men-of-good-qual_2318962.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6e/george-washington-257_absent_associate-yourself-with-men-of-good-qual_2318962.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6e/george-washington-257_absent_associate-yourself-with-men-of-good-qual_2318962.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Associate yourself with men of good quality, if you esteem your reputation. Be not apt to relate news, if…” — George Washington", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "George Washington", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Associate yourself with men of good...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/associate-yourself-with-men-of-good-quality-if-you-esteem-your/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/associate-yourself-with-men-of-good-quality-if-you-esteem-your/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```