Bad company is like a nail driven into a post, which, after the first and second blow, may be drawn out with little difficulty; but being once driven up to the head, the pincers cannot take hold to draw it out, but which can only be done by the destruction of the wood.
What's the meaning of this quote?
Quote Meaning: This metaphorical quote encapsulates the dangerous influence of negative companionship. It likens bad company to a nail being driven into a post. At first, it may not seem to cause much harm and could be relatively easily removed. However, once that nail is deeply embedded, removing it becomes much more difficult and causes significant damage. The "nail" here is symbolic of the detrimental effects of poor influences. These could be bad habits, toxic relationships, or negative environments that we allow to penetrate our lives. At first, it might not seem like they're causing any harm, but over time, as they become deeply ingrained, they can cause significant damage. Just like the wood that must be destroyed to remove the deeply embedded nail, we too may suffer great harm in the process of disentangling ourselves from such negative influences.
Who said the quote?
The quote "Bad company is like a nail driven into a post, which, after the first and second blow, may be drawn out with little difficulty; but being once driven up to the head, the pincers cannot take hold to draw it out, but which can only be done by the destruction of the wood." was said by Augustine of Hippo (Bio / Quotes). Augustine of Hippo was a Roman African philosopher and theologian who is widely regarded as one of the most important thinkers in the history of Christianity.
Chief Editor
Tal Gur is an author, founder, and impact-driven entrepreneur at heart. After trading his daily grind for a life of his own daring design, he spent a decade pursuing 100 major life goals around the globe. His journey and most recent book, The Art of Fully Living, has led him to found Elevate Society.
