“Like associates with like.”
- January 3, 106 BC – December 7, 43 BC
- Roman
- Orator, Philosopher, Statesman, Lawyer, Author
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Quote
“Like associates with like.”
Explanation
Cicero expresses a timeless principle of human behavior: people are naturally drawn to those who share similar values, interests, or dispositions. Whether in friendship, politics, or philosophy, affinity breeds connection, and shared character forms the basis for lasting bonds. The quote reflects a belief in the moral and psychological tendency for individuals to seek out those who reflect their own nature.
This idea is central to Cicero’s writings on friendship and ethics, especially in Laelius de Amicitia, where he argues that true friendships are rooted in virtue. According to Cicero, genuine relationships are not based on utility or pleasure alone, but on moral harmony and mutual admiration of character. People with upright principles naturally gravitate toward others who live according to the same ideals.
In modern terms, this observation remains evident in everything from personal relationships and social circles to ideological communities and cultural alliances. It reminds us that who we choose to associate with both reflects and reinforces who we are, and that shared values create the strongest and most authentic connections. Cicero’s insight invites us to consider not just whom we associate with, but why—and what that reveals about ourselves.
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