--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's better to hang out with people…" description: "\"It's better to hang out with people better than you. Pick out associates whose behavior is better than yours and you'll drift in that direction.\" — War..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ab/warren-buffett-183_behavior_it-s-better-to-hang-out-with-people-bett_3209204.png" --- # It's better to hang out with people better than you. Pick… ![“It's better to hang out with people better than you. Pick out associates whose behavior is better than yours and you'll drift in that direction.” quote by Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ab/warren-buffett-183_behavior_it-s-better-to-hang-out-with-people-bett_3209204.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ab/warren-buffett-183_behavior_it-s-better-to-hang-out-with-people-bett_3209204.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ab/warren-buffett-183_behavior_it-s-better-to-hang-out-with-people-bett_3209204.png) > “It's better to hang out with people better than you. Pick out associates whose behavior is better than yours and you'll drift in that direction.” [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Surround yourself with better people to improve your own behavior and success. **In simple terms:** Choose better companions to improve yourself. Key Takeaway Seek mentors and positive peers. Themes self‑improvement influence networking Mood thoughtful pragmatic Type advisory inspirational When to use this quote - career development - personal growth - leadership Key Concepts social learning role modeling Questions to Reflect On - Who inspires your best behavior? - How can you contribute positively to others? A Different Perspective Choosing only high‑status peers may create pressure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Associates Behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/associates-behavior-5989249/) [Behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior/) [Behavior Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior-better-1978115/) [Better Hang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-hang-2416613/) [Better Pick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-pick-542251/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-better/) ## Related quotes > [For me to get better, I have to pick and learn from the best. It starts with that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donovan-mitchell/for-me-to-get-better-i-have-to-pick-and-learn-from-the-best-it-starts/) [Donovan Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donovan-mitchell/) > [It is better to pick the wrong priority than none at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/it-is-better-to-pick-the-wrong-priority-than-none-at-all/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [Hilary Clinton might have been a better pick than me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/hilary-clinton-might-have-been-a-better-pick-than-me/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [Just trying to get better and pick my spots, know when to pass, know when to shoot and I think I've gotten a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/just-trying-to-get-better-and-pick-my-spots-know-when-to-pass-know/) [Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/) > [One thing I've learned is when you find a best friend in this life, you better hang on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-nabors/one-thing-i-ve-learned-is-when-you-find-a-best-friend-in-this-life/) [Jim Nabors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-nabors/) > [Things always get worse before they get better. Hang on and don't give up, or you won't ever see the rainbow after the rain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jhiess-krieg/things-always-get-worse-before-they-get-better-hang-on-and-don-t-give/) [Jhiess Krieg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jhiess-krieg/) > [“Much better hang wrong fellow than no fellow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/much-better-hang-wrong-fellow-than-no-fellow/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [“I kind of felt like now that I had ahold of her, I'd better hang on tight.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elana-k-arnold/i-kind-of-felt-like-now-that-i-had-ahold-of-her-i-d-better-hang-on/) [Elana K. Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elana-k-arnold/) > [“Then if you want something and it's a good thing and you got it in the right way, you better hang on to it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mildred-d-taylor/then-if-you-want-something-and-it-s-a-good-thing-and-you-got-it-in/) [Mildred D. Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mildred-d-taylor/) > [Positive reinforcement changes behavior for the better, while criticism stabilizes negative behaviors and blocks change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-h-pearce/positive-reinforcement-changes-behavior-for-the-better-while/) [Virginia H. Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-h-pearce/) > [Behavior is a much better barometer of what you are than words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/behavior-is-a-much-better-barometer-of-what-you-are-than-words/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [Many of us, of course, have children, and I think that the type of country that we are going to leave in our wake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santelli/many-of-us-of-course-have-children-and-i-think-that-the-type-of/) [Rick Santelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santelli/) > [Fine feelings, new insights, greater interest in ʿreligionʾ mean nothing unless they make our actual behavior better...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/fine-feelings-new-insights-greater-interest-in-religion-mean-nothing/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Don't base your decisions on the advice of those who dont have to deal with the results. To simplify, it's better to hang out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-young/don-t-base-your-decisions-on-the-advice-of-those-who-dont-have-to/) [Brian Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-young/) > [A beautiful behavior is better than a beautiful form; it gives a higher pleasure than statues or pictures; it is the finest of fine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-beautiful-behavior-is-better-than-a-beautiful-form-it-gives-a/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## More by Warren Buffett > [To invest successfully over a lifetime does not require a stratospheric IQ, unusual business insights, or inside information. What's needed is a sound intellectual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/to-invest-successfully-over-a-lifetime-does-not-require-a/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [“Be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/be-fearful-when-others-are-greedy-and-be-greedy-when-others-are/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [Making money isn't the backbone of our guiding purpose; it is the by-product of our guiding purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/making-money-isn-t-the-backbone-of-our-guiding-purpose-it-is-the-by/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [We set no volume goals in our insurance business generally-and certainly not in reinsurance-as virtually any volume can be achieved if profitability standards are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/we-set-no-volume-goals-in-our-insurance-business-generally-and/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [Everybody's got a different circle of competence. The important thing is not how big the circle is. The important thing is staying inside the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/everybody-s-got-a-different-circle-of-competence-the-important-thing/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [It is better to point out your own mistakes than have somebody else do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/it-is-better-to-point-out-your-own-mistakes-than-have-somebody-else/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [I've read about all the sales today. If you're an auto dealer, you're feeling it. If you're a furniture retailer like we are, you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/i-ve-read-about-all-the-sales-today-if-you-re-an-auto-dealer-you-re/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [I was lucky enough to be born in a time and place where society values my talent, and gave me a good education to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/i-was-lucky-enough-to-be-born-in-a-time-and-place-where-society/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [The most common cause of low prices is pessimism - some times pervasive, some times specific to a company or industry. We want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/the-most-common-cause-of-low-prices-is-pessimism-some-times-pervasive/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [The reaction of weak management to weak operations is often weak accounting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/the-reaction-of-weak-management-to-weak-operations-is-often-weak/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [What you really want to do in investments is figure out what's important and knowable. If it's unimportant or unknowable you forget about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/what-you-really-want-to-do-in-investments-is-figure-out-what-s/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [I don't measure my life by the money I've made. Other people might, but certainly don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/i-don-t-measure-my-life-by-the-money-i-ve-made-other-people-might-but/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [I mean the truth is, I've never had it so good in terms of taxes. I am paying the lowest tax rate that I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/i-mean-the-truth-is-i-ve-never-had-it-so-good-in-terms-of-taxes-i-am/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [The most important quality for an investor is temperament, not intellect. You need a temperament that neither derives great pleasure from being with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/the-most-important-quality-for-an-investor-is-temperament-not/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [Investors, of course, can, by their own behavior make stock ownership highly risky. And many do. Active trading, attempts to "time" market movements, inadequate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/investors-of-course-can-by-their-own-behavior-make-stock-ownership/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) [Explore all 984 Warren Buffett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) ## More Behavior quotes > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I now know that deep within the human concept is something dark, selfish, and completely willing to do whatever is necessary to support the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-west/i-now-know-that-deep-within-the-human-concept-is-something-dark/) [Melissa West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-west/) > [“We are endowed with genes which code out our reaction to beavers and otters, maybe our reaction to each other as well. We are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-thomas/we-are-endowed-with-genes-which-code-out-our-reaction-to-beavers-and/) [Lewis Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-thomas/) > [The number of poor, and poorly prepared, students who succeed in college and beyond undercuts the simplistic notion that economic or educational disadvantage is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-merullo/the-number-of-poor-and-poorly-prepared-students-who-succeed-in/) [Roland Merullo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-merullo/) > [To behave creatively in art means behavior with skill; and skill comes from discipline, not derangement. The artist who knows the rules -and proportion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burne-hogarth/to-behave-creatively-in-art-means-behavior-with-skill-and-skill-comes/) [Burne Hogarth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burne-hogarth/) > [You don't put milk in chamomile tea - that's disgusting behavior! That's not right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-fraser/you-don-t-put-milk-in-chamomile-tea-that-s-disgusting-behavior-that-s/) [Laura Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-fraser/) > [The laws of thermodynamics, as empirically determined, express the approximate and probable behavior of systems of a great number of particles, or, more precisely,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-willard-gibbs/the-laws-of-thermodynamics-as-empirically-determined-express-the/) [J. Willard Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-willard-gibbs/) > [I started with the belief that every person who came to the laboratory was free to accept or to reject the dictates of authority.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-milgram/i-started-with-the-belief-that-every-person-who-came-to-the/) [Stanley Milgram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-milgram/) > [The tipping point is that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/the-tipping-point-is-that-magic-moment-when-an-idea-trend-or-social/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [I think we've told a lot of lies about human behavior through film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-arquette/i-think-we-ve-told-a-lot-of-lies-about-human-behavior-through-film/) [Patricia Arquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-arquette/) > [The strongest rebellion may be expressed in quiet, undramatic behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-spock/the-strongest-rebellion-may-be-expressed-in-quiet-undramatic-behavior/) [Benjamin Spock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-spock/) > [The behavior of any bureaucratic organization can best be understood by assuming that it is controlled by a secret cabal of its enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-conquest/the-behavior-of-any-bureaucratic-organization-can-best-be-understood/) [Robert Conquest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-conquest/) > [If you want good behavior, don't pay on a commission basis. Our judges aren't paid so much a case. We keep them pretty well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/if-you-want-good-behavior-don-t-pay-on-a-commission-basis-our-judges/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) [Browse all 4,218 Behavior quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's better to hang out with people better than you. Pick out associates whose behavior is better than yours and you'll drift in that direction.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Warren Buffett" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/it-s-better-to-hang-out-with-people-better-than-you-pick-out/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Behavior" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/it-s-better-to-hang-out-with-people-better-than-you-pick-out/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ab/warren-buffett-183_behavior_it-s-better-to-hang-out-with-people-bett_3209204.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ab/warren-buffett-183_behavior_it-s-better-to-hang-out-with-people-bett_3209204.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ab/warren-buffett-183_behavior_it-s-better-to-hang-out-with-people-bett_3209204.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's better to hang out with people better than you. Pick out associates whose behavior is better than yours…” — Warren Buffett", "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": "Warren Buffett", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It's better to hang out with...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/it-s-better-to-hang-out-with-people-better-than-you-pick-out/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/it-s-better-to-hang-out-with-people-better-than-you-pick-out/#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 } } ] } ```