Who keeps company with the wolf will learn to howl.与狼为伴,就学会狼嚎。
此句的主语He省略了,who keeps company with the wolf原本是主语He的定语从句。在一般句子里,这个主语是不能省的,但在谚语中为了句子简洁,常会有这种情况。
谚语是用动物作比喻来说明人与人之间的相互影响,同样意思还常用其他的比喻:
He who lives with dogs will learn to howl.
与狗为伴,就学会犬吠。
He that lives with a cripple learns to limp.
与跛子为伴,就学会跛行。
环境对个人影响有好也有坏,中国谚语“近朱者赤,近墨者黑”(He who handles vermilion will be reddened, and he who touches ink will be blackened.),就是兼指好坏两种影响。
谈到个人对周围人的影响,可参阅另一条谚语:One scabbed sheep will mar a whole flock.