Always Quote by Stephen Malkmus
“I've always been attracted to negative influences - I thought that meant you were smart.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Pitchfork interview, 2014
Attracting harmful people was mistaken for intelligence, conflating danger with cleverness.
In simple terms: Mistaking bad company for smartness.
Key Takeaway
Choose healthier influences.
Themes
self‑awareness
relationships
intelligence
Mood
reflective
cautious
Type
advice
philosophical
When to use this quote
- college friendships
- workplace mentorship
- online communities
- personal growth
Key Concepts
psychology
social dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you equate risk with brilliance?
- How can you identify truly supportive people?
A Different Perspective
Negative influences can still teach valuable lessons if reflected upon.
![“Traditionally, when we lived here [in Portland], we have a record player in the living room, and there's lots of stuff playing, all different kinds of music. I don't listen to any of those Internet radio things. I have iTunes on my thing, but I've never bought a single thing on it. Except for…” quote by Stephen Malkmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/841/stephen-malkmus-2984_call-me_traditionally-when-we-lived-here-in-port_100182.jpg)
