--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We have to keep company with supposedly…" description: "\"We have to keep company with supposedly bad characters if we are to survive and not succumb to mental atrophy. People of good character, so called, are..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f92/thomas-bernhard-3514_bad-character_we-have-to-keep-company-with-supposedly_502262.jpg" --- # We have to keep company with supposedly bad characters if… ![“We have to keep company with supposedly bad characters if we are to survive and not succumb to mental atrophy. People of good character, so called, are the ones who end up boring us to death.” quote by Thomas Bernhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f92/thomas-bernhard-3514_bad-character_we-have-to-keep-company-with-supposedly_502262.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f92/thomas-bernhard-3514_bad-character_we-have-to-keep-company-with-supposedly_502262.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f92/thomas-bernhard-3514_bad-character_we-have-to-keep-company-with-supposedly_502262.jpg) > “We have to keep company with supposedly bad characters if we are to survive and not succumb to mental atrophy. People of good character, so called, are the ones who end up boring us to death.” [Thomas Bernhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-bernhard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Associating with morally ambiguous people prevents mental stagnation; “good” people can be dull. **In simple terms:** Bad company keeps mind active. Key Takeaway Engage with diverse perspectives. Themes mental health diversity stimulation Mood critical thoughtful Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - creative work - academic debate - personal relationships Key Concepts philosophy of character social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How do you choose companions? - Can “bad” characters be beneficial? A Different Perspective Risk of negative influence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-character/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters/) [Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company/) [Good character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-character/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [There are good characters and bad characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-stone/there-are-good-characters-and-bad-characters/) [Matt Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-stone/) > [“And don’t forget, if you are very intelligent but load yourself with bad characters, nobody will follow you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/and-don-t-forget-if-you-are-very-intelligent-but-load-yourself-with/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [All the best novels are about one thing: how we go on. 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