a man is known by the company he keeps (people are similar in character to their friends)
köken: vakka (“type of wooden container, bushel”) + kantensa (“its cap”) (possessive form) + valitsee (“chooses”). Attested in Henrik Florinus: Wanhain suomalaisten tawaliset ja suloiset sananlascut ("The Proper and Graceful Proverbs of the Old Finns", 1702): Kyllaͤ wacka candens walitze; wacan canſi candimens.