The ancients said one should keep the virtuous close and the sycophants far.
Tips
usage
贤 is mostly seen in compounds: 贤惠 (virtuous, of a woman), 贤明 (wise and virtuous), 圣贤 (sage). On its own it's quite literary. In modern speech, 贤妻 (xiánqī, virtuous wife) is still commonly used.
history
In Confucian thought, 贤 is a key virtue — a 贤人 (xiánrén) is a person of outstanding moral character and ability, just below a 圣人 (shèngrén, sage) in the moral hierarchy.
