Greet everyone, and choose the company of the great

Rav Matteya ben Heresh taught that a person should meet every human being with a friendly greeting, and that it is better to be the tail among lions than the head among foxes. The first half asks us to be warm to all, without regard to who they are. The second half teaches that a person grows by standing among those greater than himself, even in a lowly place, rather than ruling over lesser company.