Akademik

Лучше с умным потерять, чем с глупым найти
Though you may bear some losses with a clever person, spiritual communication with him outweighs what you gain with a silly man
Cf: It is better to sit with a wise man in prison than with a fool is paradise (Am.). Tis better to lose with a wise man than to win with a fool (Am.)

Русско-английский словарь пословиц и поговорок. . 2013.