--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But both courses are to be avoided; you…" description: "\"“But both courses are to be avoided; you should not copy the bad simply because they are many, nor should you hate the many because they are unlike you..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d6/seneca-956_better-man_but-both-courses-are-to-be-avoided-you-s_64781.jpg" --- # But both courses are to be avoided; you should not copy… ![“But both courses are to be avoided; you should not copy the bad simply because they are many, nor should you hate the many because they are unlike you. Withdraw into yourself, as far as you can. Associate with those who will make a better man of you. Welcome those whom you yourself can improve…” quote by Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d6/seneca-956_better-man_but-both-courses-are-to-be-avoided-you-s_64781.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d6/seneca-956_better-man_but-both-courses-are-to-be-avoided-you-s_64781.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d6/seneca-956_better-man_but-both-courses-are-to-be-avoided-you-s_64781.jpg) > ““But both courses are to be avoided; you should not copy the bad simply because they are many, nor should you hate the many because they are unlike you. Withdraw into yourself, as far as you can. Associate with those who will make a better man of you. Welcome those whom you yourself can improve. The process is mutual; for men learn while they teach.”” [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates selective association: avoid copying many flawed behaviors and rejecting the majority; instead, seek self-improvement through mutual teaching and learning. **In simple terms:** Choose mentors, not crowds. Key Takeaway Mutual growth through selective relationships. Themes self-improvement social influence mentorship reciprocity wisdom Mood thoughtful inspired reflective Type advice philosophical motivational When to use this quote - seeking personal development - joining a community of peers - being a mentor - receiving guidance - cultivating a supportive network Key Concepts association reflection teaching learning Practical Applications - personal coaching - peer-led workshops Questions to Reflect On - Who in your life models you become a better person? - How can you contribute to others' growth? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Better man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-man/) [Courses Avoided](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courses-avoided-868071/) [Learn Teach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learn-teach/) [Men Learn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-learn/) [Unlike Withdraw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unlike-withdraw-868070/) [Withdraw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/withdraw/) ## Related quotes > [“Withdraw into yourself, as far as you can. Associate with those who will make a better man of you. Welcome those whom you yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/withdraw-into-yourself-as-far-as-you-can-associate-with-those-who/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [Men learn while they teach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/men-learn-while-they-teach/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Children learn more from what you are than what you teach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/children-learn-more-from-what-you-are-than-what-you-teach/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Live your life in the manner that you would like your kids to live theirs. Children learn more from what you are than what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/live-your-life-in-the-manner-that-you-would-like-your-kids-to-live/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you have, give. If you learn, teach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-you-have-give-if-you-learn-teach/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [“We must learn and then teach our children that niceness does not equal goodness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-de-becker/we-must-learn-and-then-teach-our-children-that-niceness-does-not/) [Gavin de Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-de-becker/) > [ “\[The ideal aim of life is\] to learn, to teach, to serve, to enjoy!” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-ward-howe/the-ideal-aim-of-life-is-to-learn-to-teach-to-serve-to-enjoy/) [Julia Ward Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-ward-howe/) > [If you learn you can teach; if you teach you will learn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/if-you-learn-you-can-teach-if-you-teach-you-will-learn/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Leaders are more powerful role models when they learn than when they teach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/leaders-are-more-powerful-role-models-when-they-learn-than-when-they/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [One of the best ways to learn anything is to teach yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-rich/one-of-the-best-ways-to-learn-anything-is-to-teach-yourself/) [Giles Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-rich/) > [You can only learn when you teach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-can-only-learn-when-you-teach/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [We need to remember across generations that there is as much to learn as there is to teach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/we-need-to-remember-across-generations-that-there-is-as-much-to-learn/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [It is a no-fail, incontrovertible reality: If you get, give. If you learn, teach. You can't do anything with that except do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/it-is-a-no-fail-incontrovertible-reality-if-you-get-give-if-you-learn/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Schools should be places to learn, not to teach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-tapscott/schools-should-be-places-to-learn-not-to-teach/) [Don Tapscott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-tapscott/) > [When you learn, teach, when you get, give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/when-you-learn-teach-when-you-get-give/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) ## More by Seneca > [“You should, I need hardly say, live in such a way that there is nothing which you could not as easily tell your enemy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/you-should-i-need-hardly-say-live-in-such-a-way-that-there-is-nothing/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [“The difficulty comes from our lack of confidence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/the-difficulty-comes-from-our-lack-of-confidence/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [Fate leads the willing and drags along the unwilling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/fate-leads-the-willing-and-drags-along-the-unwilling/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [“the wise man is self-sufficient, that he can do without friends, not that he desires to do without them. When I say "can," I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/the-wise-man-is-self-sufficient-that-he-can-do-without-friends-not/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [“This, I say, is the highest duty and the highest proof of wisdom, – that deed and word should be in accord, that”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/this-i-say-is-the-highest-duty-and-the-highest-proof-of-wisdom-that/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [“Virtue alone affords everlasting and peace-giving joy; even if some obstacle arise, it is but like an intervening cloud, which floats beneath the sun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/virtue-alone-affords-everlasting-and-peace-giving-joy-even-if-some/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [“I’ve come across people who say that there is a sort of inborn restlessness in the human spirit and an urge to change one’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/i-ve-come-across-people-who-say-that-there-is-a-sort-of-inborn/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [“Withdraw into yourself, as far as you can. Associate with those who will make a better man of you. Welcome those whom you yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/withdraw-into-yourself-as-far-as-you-can-associate-with-those-who/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [Economy is too late at the bottom of the purse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/economy-is-too-late-at-the-bottom-of-the-purse/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [“On Epicurus; He says: "Contended poverty is an honourable estate." Indeed, if it is contented, it is not poverty at all. It is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/on-epicurus-he-says-contended-poverty-is-an-honourable-estate-indeed/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [“...certain people have good, ordinary blood and others have an animated, lively sort of blood that comes to the face quickly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/certain-people-have-good-ordinary-blood-and-others-have-an-animated/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [“we perish because we follow other men's examples: we should be cured of this if we were to disengage ourselves from the herd;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/we-perish-because-we-follow-other-men-s-examples-we-should-be-cured/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [“they Whatever can make life truly happy is absolutely good in its own right because it cannot be warped into evil From whence then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/they-whatever-can-make-life-truly-happy-is-absolutely-good-in-its-own/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [“And when the soul has yielded to pleasure, its functions and actions grow weak, and any undertaking comes from a nerveless and unsteady source.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/and-when-the-soul-has-yielded-to-pleasure-its-functions-and-actions/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [“The happy man, therefore, is he who can make a right judgment in all things: he is happy who in his present circumstances, whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/the-happy-man-therefore-is-he-who-can-make-a-right-judgment-in-all/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) [Explore all 286 Seneca quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) ## More Better man quotes > [If I were a boy, I think I could understand how it feels to love a girl..I swear I'll be a better man :-/](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-i-were-a-boy-i-think-i-could-understand-how-it-feels-to-love-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I do not think it is permitted that a better man be harmed by a worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/i-do-not-think-it-is-permitted-that-a-better-man-be-harmed-by-a-worse/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [I should've been a better man instead of wasting my time spending my life searching for the finer things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-brown/i-should-ve-been-a-better-man-instead-of-wasting-my-time-spending-my/) [Chris Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-brown/) > [“I think so. You’re saying that God’s putting me through this fire so He can make me a better man.” “Yes. The problem is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-h-westall/i-think-so-you-re-saying-that-god-s-putting-me-through-this-fire-so/) [Jennifer H. Westall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-h-westall/) > [“The knuckles of his hand that had Shaw's name inked across them caught my eye. I pointed to them. "You have her with you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-crownover/the-knuckles-of-his-hand-that-had-shaw-s-name-inked-across-them/) [Jay Crownover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-crownover/) > [It is a great mistake to think that the extremist is a better man than the moderate. Usually the difference is not that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/it-is-a-great-mistake-to-think-that-the-extremist-is-a-better-man/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [“I've had recurring nightmares that I was loved for who I am...and missed the opportunity to be a better man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muse/i-ve-had-recurring-nightmares-that-i-was-loved-for-who-i-am-and/) [Muse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muse/) > [I shall state silences more competently than ever a better man spangled the butterflies of vertigo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/i-shall-state-silences-more-competently-than-ever-a-better-man/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [“That morning, lying with the woman I loved, a silent promise was formed in my head. I was going to be a better man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/that-morning-lying-with-the-woman-i-loved-a-silent-promise-was-formed/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [I'm better than your next man and if you're swingin' like you're dumber than the next man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-weeknd/i-m-better-than-your-next-man-and-if-you-re-swingin-like-you-re/) [The Weeknd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-weeknd/) > [He’s playing every bit as hard as I am, only he knows what he’s doing and I don’t. Don’t blame me because he’s a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/he-s-playing-every-bit-as-hard-as-i-am-only-he-knows-what-he-s-doing/) [Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/) > [“Gentlemen, Admiral Lord Nelson wrote, of the officers aft on the quarterdeck and the seamen of the fo’c’sle: ‘Aft the most honour—forward the better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-stockwin/gentlemen-admiral-lord-nelson-wrote-of-the-officers-aft-on-the/) [Julian Stockwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-stockwin/) > [“Any thought that you are better or less Than another man Quickly Breaks the wine Glass.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-ladinsky/any-thought-that-you-are-better-or-less-than-another-man-quickly/) [Daniel Ladinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-ladinsky/) > [Remember 'beauty is in GODS EYES' YOU ALL ARE BEAUTIFUL, but only you control your health, I'm not perfect but I'm striving to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/remember-beauty-is-in-gods-eyes-you-all-are-beautiful-but-only-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Sometimes I wish I never met you, but then again I'm happy I did because you made me a better man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quinton-riley/sometimes-i-wish-i-never-met-you-but-then-again-i-m-happy-i-did/) [Quinton Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quinton-riley/) [Browse all 390 Better man quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-man/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“But both courses are to be avoided; you should not copy the bad simply because they are many, nor should you hate the many because they are unlike you. 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