“He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed” (Proverbs 13:20, NKJV). This verse is blunt about something we often underestimate: the people we spend the most time with shape us, whether we notice it happening or not.
Nobody sets out to become foolish by association. It usually happens slowly, through normalized habits, casual compromises, and values absorbed simply by proximity.
The same is true in the other direction. Walking closely with wise people tends to sharpen wisdom in us too, often without a single direct lesson being taught.
It’s worth an honest look at who you’re walking closely with these days, and whether that company is shaping you toward wisdom or away from it.