Evil company corrupts good habits. 1 Cor. 15:33.
Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. Eph. 5:11.
With whom, then, are we to associate? With the righteous. Clement of Alexandria (c. 195, E), 2.289.
If the presence of a good man, through the respect and reverence that he inspires, always improves him with whom he associates, with much more reason does not he who always holds uninterrupted conversation with God by knowledge, life, and thanksgiving grow at every step. Clement of Alexandria (c. 195, E), 2.533.
Follow associations and conversations that are worthy of God. Always remember that short verse, sanctified by the apostle’s quotation of it: “Evil company corrupts good morals.” Tertullian (c. 205, W), 4.43.
Let our most beloved brethren firmly reject the others. Let them avoid the words and conversations of those whose teaching creeps onwards like a cancer. As the apostle says, “Evil communications corrupt good manners.” Cyprian (c. 250, W), 5.346; see also 5.427.