"Choose your companions from the best; Who draws a bucket with the rest soon topples down the hill"

This quote by William Butler Yeats is a suggestion to be mindful of the business we keep. It is recommending that we must be selective in our choice of companions and seek out those who are of the highest quality. The metaphor of drawing a pail with the rest implies that if we connect with individuals who are not of the highest quality, we will be dragged down to their level and our own development will be hindered. The phrase "falls down the hill" suggests that if we are not mindful in our option of companions, we will be dragged down and our development will be impeded. This quote is a tip to be mindful of the business we keep and to pick our buddies sensibly. It is a reminder that if we relate to individuals who are not of the highest caliber, we will be dragged down to their level and our own development will be hindered.