"Clay Is the Same, But Purpose Defines Us"

The Company You Keep: Why It Shapes Who You Become

In this world, wherever there is goodness, there is also evil. Where there is a “yes,” there is always a “no.” For every honest soul, there’s someone walking a path of lies. Just as there is daylight, there must also be darkness.

Humanity is full of contrast—people think differently, act differently. Some live with truth and integrity as their foundation, while others rely on deception and trickery. That’s just how the world is.

But in moments of confusion, when we’re seeking the right path or needing guidance, we must surround ourselves with people of wisdom, sincerity, and experience. If we are trying to walk on the right path, yet keep company with those who are dishonest or reckless, society might judge us by the company we keep.

Let me be clear—this isn’t about avoiding those who’ve gone astray. No. This is about protecting your own values while being around them. If you can, help them realize their wrongdoings. Let them know, gently but firmly, that it's not them you distance yourself from, but their bad habits. Remind them: if they walk with the virtuous, they'll eventually be seen as virtuous; walk with the corrupt, and they’ll be judged the same.

To explain this, let me share a small thought experiment.