--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you surround yourself with clowns…" description: "\"“If you surround yourself with clowns, don't be surprised when your life resembles a circus.”\" — Steve Maraboli" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b35/steve-maraboli-178_circus_if-you-surround-yourself-with-clowns-don_860204.jpg" --- # If you surround yourself with clowns, don't be surprised… ![“If you surround yourself with clowns, don't be surprised when your life resembles a circus.” quote by Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b35/steve-maraboli-178_circus_if-you-surround-yourself-with-clowns-don_860204.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b35/steve-maraboli-178_circus_if-you-surround-yourself-with-clowns-don_860204.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b35/steve-maraboli-178_circus_if-you-surround-yourself-with-clowns-don_860204.jpg) > ““If you surround yourself with clowns, don't be surprised when your life resembles a circus.”” [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Surrounding yourself with foolish people leads to a chaotic life; choose companions wisely. **In simple terms:** Choose friends, avoid chaos. Key Takeaway Seek supportive, wise company. Themes relationships influence environment Mood reflective cautious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - personal growth - career decisions - mental health Key Concepts social circles peer pressure Questions to Reflect On - Who influences you most? - How can you set boundaries with toxic friends? A Different Perspective Not everyone can be changed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Circus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circus/) [Clown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clown/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [Clowns don't build institutions, nor do boxers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henrik-clarke/clowns-don-t-build-institutions-nor-do-boxers/) [John Henrik Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henrik-clarke/) > [With John Wayne Gacy - the serial killer who dressed up as a clown - there's just something about clowns I don't trust. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-janney/with-john-wayne-gacy-the-serial-killer-who-dressed-up-as-a-clown/) [Allison Janney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-janney/) > [We've become so glorified in the movie-star system that it's become this artificial royalty. The truth is that we're circus clowns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-cage/we-ve-become-so-glorified-in-the-movie-star-system-that-it-s-become/) [Nicolas Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-cage/) > [When I first started dating my husband, I had this weird fascination with the circus and clowns and old carnival things and sideshow freaks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-hendricks/when-i-first-started-dating-my-husband-i-had-this-weird-fascination/) [Christina Hendricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-hendricks/) > [The circus was born with animals, horses at the start. This is part of our cultural heritage. It's a whole, with clowns and acrobats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/princess-stephanie-of-monaco/the-circus-was-born-with-animals-horses-at-the-start-this-is-part-of/) [Princess Stephanie of Monaco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/princess-stephanie-of-monaco/) > [I enjoyed clowns when I was a kid going to the circus. Mainly I mean the good clowns, when you go to a circus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/i-enjoyed-clowns-when-i-was-a-kid-going-to-the-circus-mainly-i-mean/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [I hate clowns and I would never do anything getting near a clown, I can't go to the circus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ty-simpkins/i-hate-clowns-and-i-would-never-do-anything-getting-near-a-clown-i/) [Ty Simpkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ty-simpkins/) > [I like the clowns from the circus that have more paint on their face. They were all funny and made me laugh. As a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-stormare/i-like-the-clowns-from-the-circus-that-have-more-paint-on-their-face/) [Peter Stormare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-stormare/) > [In the Stephen Sondheim song, when something bad happens in the circus, they send in the clowns. In America's political circus, they send in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-esler/in-the-stephen-sondheim-song-when-something-bad-happens-in-the-circus/) [Gavin Esler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-esler/) > [“Trump taught us how easily seemingly serious people can become profoundly idiotic. He turned career politicians into circus freaks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thor-benson/trump-taught-us-how-easily-seemingly-serious-people-can-become/) [Thor Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thor-benson/) > [“Clowns are respectable only in a circus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamerlan-kuzgov/clowns-are-respectable-only-in-a-circus/) [Tamerlan Kuzgov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamerlan-kuzgov/) > [“Same circus, different clowns, and without a doubt I'm one of them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-barry/same-circus-different-clowns-and-without-a-doubt-i-m-one-of-them/) [Lynda Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-barry/) > [A circus! 100 clowns of injustice have climbed out of the tiny clown car of this court room.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-degeneres/a-circus-100-clowns-of-injustice-have-climbed-out-of-the-tiny-clown/) [Ellen DeGeneres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-degeneres/) > [When fighting clowns, always go for the juggler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darynda-jones/when-fighting-clowns-always-go-for-the-juggler/) [Darynda Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darynda-jones/) > [There are two types of people in this world. People who hate clowns...and clowns. (Bobby Pendragon)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-j-machale-2/there-are-two-types-of-people-in-this-world-people-who-hate-clowns/) [D. J. MacHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-j-machale-2/) ## More by Steve Maraboli > [A very small percentage of the people in this world will actually experience and live today. So many people will be stuck on another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/a-very-small-percentage-of-the-people-in-this-world-will-actually/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [Its a lack of clarity that creates chaos and frustration. Those emotions are poison to any living goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/its-a-lack-of-clarity-that-creates-chaos-and-frustration-those/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [“Fear has the role we give it. We are able to empower or poison ourselves to whatever degree we want. This is the beauty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/fear-has-the-role-we-give-it-we-are-able-to-empower-or-poison/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [“There is no greater force for change than people inspired to live a better life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/there-is-no-greater-force-for-change-than-people-inspired-to-live-a/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [“If the things behind you are tripping you, you're moving in the wrong direction.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/if-the-things-behind-you-are-tripping-you-you-re-moving-in-the-wrong/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [“We need more than just the Law of Attraction. We need to connect with its more successful twin, the Law of Generosity. And further…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/we-need-more-than-just-the-law-of-attraction-we-need-to-connect-with/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [God is the architect of the event; you are the interpreter of the moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/god-is-the-architect-of-the-event-you-are-the-interpreter-of-the/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [“Life had broken her; just as it had broken him. But when they got together, their pieces became whole. And they continued on their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/life-had-broken-her-just-as-it-had-broken-him-but-when-they-got/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [“How would your life be different if...You could control the outcome of your day, your week, your year? Let today be the day...You embrace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/how-would-your-life-be-different-if-you-could-control-the-outcome-of/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [“If you want drama, settle for the one who will change your relationship status. If you want love, wait for the one who will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/if-you-want-drama-settle-for-the-one-who-will-change-your/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [“The time has come to harness the blessed power within us and to use it to transcend from our current existence into a more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/the-time-has-come-to-harness-the-blessed-power-within-us-and-to-use/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [You cant fully enjoy THESE moments until you let go of past moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/you-cant-fully-enjoy-these-moments-until-you-let-go-of-past-moments/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [“The most powerful relationship you will ever have is the relationship with yourself. It is in this relationship that you set the standard for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/the-most-powerful-relationship-you-will-ever-have-is-the-relationship/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [“Walk away from gossip and verbal defamation. Speak only the good you know of other people and encourage others to do the same.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/walk-away-from-gossip-and-verbal-defamation-speak-only-the-good-you/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [“Even though she would dream of love, respect, and unfettered romance... it was a cyclical dilemma in her life that she seemed to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/even-though-she-would-dream-of-love-respect-and-unfettered-romance-it/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) [Explore all 990 Steve Maraboli quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) ## More Circus quotes > [I would have done well as a gypsy child, I think. A circus baby. I coulda played a great street urchin or ragamuffin. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-lyonne/i-would-have-done-well-as-a-gypsy-child-i-think-a-circus-baby-i/) [Natasha Lyonne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-lyonne/) > [Blind with love, my daughter has cried nightly for horses, those long-necked marchers and churners that she has mastered, any and all, reigning them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sexton/blind-with-love-my-daughter-has-cried-nightly-for-horses-those-long/) [Anne Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sexton/) > [In Roslyn, Pennsylvania, we started our real-life family circus. They provided the inspiration for my cartoons. I provided the perspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bil-keane/in-roslyn-pennsylvania-we-started-our-real-life-family-circus-they/) [Bil Keane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bil-keane/) > [Circus clown. That's a new one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/circus-clown-that-s-a-new-one/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Funerals and weddings were commonplace, and nothing could have been so interesting to them as the coming of the end of the world ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-eggleston/funerals-and-weddings-were-commonplace-and-nothing-could-have-been-so/) [Edward Eggleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-eggleston/) > [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/) > [When I was 18 I worked with the Ringling Brothers circus, taking care of menagerie animals. I used to rather deliberately risk my life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hoagland/when-i-was-18-i-worked-with-the-ringling-brothers-circus-taking-care/) [Edward Hoagland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hoagland/) > [So what if I'm ninety-three? So what if I'm ancient and cranky and my body's a wreck? If they're willing to accept me and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-gruen/so-what-if-i-m-ninety-three-so-what-if-i-m-ancient-and-cranky-and-my/) [Sara Gruen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-gruen/) > [Writing is for men who can think and feel, not mindless sensation seekers out of nightclubs and bars. But these are bad times. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naguib-mahfouz/writing-is-for-men-who-can-think-and-feel-not-mindless-sensation/) [Naguib Mahfouz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naguib-mahfouz/) > [“If i'm gonna be described as a clown for my actions, I might aswell be a whole circus”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bee/if-i-m-gonna-be-described-as-a-clown-for-my-actions-i-might-aswell-be/) [Bee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bee/) > [I've had 79 to 80 years of show business. I started when I was 5 with a man called Tom Mix. I didn't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-sidney/i-ve-had-79-to-80-years-of-show-business-i-started-when-i-was-5-with/) George Sidney > [When I'm on stage, it's really intense. My mind is going a million miles an hour, trying to remember my act, trying to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/when-i-m-on-stage-it-s-really-intense-my-mind-is-going-a-million/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [I unconsciously decided that, even if it wasn't an ideal world, it should be. So I painted only the ideal aspects of it -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-rockwell/i-unconsciously-decided-that-even-if-it-wasn-t-an-ideal-world-it/) [Norman Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-rockwell/) > [The circus tent was flowing pale in the rain like a fleshy flower lit from within. It seemed to bloom in the downpour. Drops…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-lia-block/the-circus-tent-was-flowing-pale-in-the-rain-like-a-fleshy-flower-lit/) [Francesca Lia Block](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-lia-block/) > [My father used to describe how he'd love going, early in the morning, out on a location and waiting for the trucks to arrive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-broccoli/my-father-used-to-describe-how-he-d-love-going-early-in-the-morning/) [Barbara Broccoli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-broccoli/) [Browse all 606 Circus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circus/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“If you surround yourself with clowns, don't be surprised when your life resembles a circus.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Steve Maraboli" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/if-you-surround-yourself-with-clowns-don-t-be-surprised-when-your/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Circus" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/if-you-surround-yourself-with-clowns-don-t-be-surprised-when-your/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b35/steve-maraboli-178_circus_if-you-surround-yourself-with-clowns-don_860204.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b35/steve-maraboli-178_circus_if-you-surround-yourself-with-clowns-don_860204.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b35/steve-maraboli-178_circus_if-you-surround-yourself-with-clowns-don_860204.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you surround yourself with clowns, don't be surprised when your life resembles a circus.” — Steve Maraboli", "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": "Steve Maraboli", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“If you surround yourself with clowns,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/if-you-surround-yourself-with-clowns-don-t-be-surprised-when-your/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/if-you-surround-yourself-with-clowns-don-t-be-surprised-when-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 } } ] } ```