Edward Ball
Humans are so vulnerable that the moods, attitudes, ways of thinking, behaving and the bad luck of those we hang around can become our own. If you happen to get snared by a miserable unfortunate you will either spend all your time in a bad mood crying about your circumstances, pointing the finger and engulfed in some bad situation. By the time you realize what’s going on you will spend the rest of your time and energy trying to shake that unfortunate person. Miserable unfortunates need to be left in the dust. If they aren’t dusted they will eventually roll over and flatten you with blame and misfortune.
People who refuse to better themselves can’t assist you either. In fact, they often are haters whose hate surfaces when you are trying to be successful. I can recall when I was on the block selling dope 
many of my peers were content where they were and with what they had. When anyone from the hood started getting money and made the decision to have more than a high, a bottle and empty pockets those that were content began hating on them. I know plenty of people I considered my friends who wouldn’t spend a dime with me unless they absolutely had to. Their actions indicated to me that they weren’t trying to help me better myself or my situation, even to this day they won’t spend a dime and buy one of my books. When I went to prison it became crystal clear that I should have moved on from many of the people I considered my friends. They weren’t rolling with me they were just in my way.
If your friends aren’t supporting your plans, implementing plans of their own, and aren’t a happy fortunate, they are in your way and need to be rolled over or they will roll over you.
The above was an excerpt from my book: What I Learned in the Streets & Prison: That Can Help You Win at the Game of Life