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Quotes about enemies

49 quotes from 40 people

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I had grown tired of standing in the lean and lonely front line facing the greatest enemy that ever confronted man — public opinion.
Clarence Darrow1857–1938The Story of My Life (1932), Ch. 27 “The Loeb-Leopold Tragedy”, p. 232
Be extremely subtle, even to the point of formlessness. Be extremely mysterious, even to the point of soundlessness. Thereby you can be the director of the opponent’s fate.
Sun Tzu544–496 BCThe Art of War, Chapter VI · Weaknesses and Strengths
- War & Peace
It is always possible to bind together a considerable number of people in love, so long as there are other people left over to receive manifestations of their aggressiveness.
Sigmund Freud1856–1939Civilization and Its Discontents (1929), Ch. 5, as translated by James Strachey and Anna Freud (1961)
- Love
If Hitler invaded Hell, I would make at least a favourable reference to the devil in the House of Commons.
Winston Churchill1874–1965Remark to John Colville (21 June 1941), as quoted in Andrew Nagorski, The Greatest Battle (2007), pp. 150–151
- War & Peace
If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner.
Nelson Mandela1918–2013Long Walk to Freedom (1995)
- War & Peace
Persons are not known by intellect alone, not by principles alone, but only by love. It is when we love the other, the enemy, that we obtain from God the key to an understanding of who he is, and who we are.
TMThomas Merton1915–1968Letter to Dorothy Day (20 December 1961).
- Love
All political movements are like this — we are in the right, everyone else is in the wrong. The people on our own side who disagree with us are heretics, and they start becoming enemies.
Doris Lessing1919–2013Salon interview (1997)
- Politics
The will of God, to which the law gives expression, is that men should defeat their enemies by loving them.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer1906–1945The Cost of Discipleship (1937), “The Enemy—the Extraordinary”, p. 147
- God
- Love
Even good deeds by the enemy are considered a sign of particular devilishness, meant to deceive us and the world, while our bad deeds are necessary and justified by our noble goals which they serve.
Erich Fromm1900–1980The Art of Loving (1956)
Never ascribe to an opponent motives meaner than your own.
J. M. Barrie1860–1937Rectorial Address, St. Andrew’s (3 May 1922)
- Advice
Anytime you have to rely upon your enemy for a job you’re in bad shape.
Malcolm X1925–1965Speech in Detroit, Michigan (12 April 1964)
- Work
Our worst enemies here are not the ignorant and the simple, however cruel; our worst enemies are the intelligent and corrupt.
Graham Greene1904–1991The Human Factor (1978), Pt. III, ch. 3 (1978)
- Intelligence
If the love within your mind is lost and you see other beings as enemies, then no matter how much knowledge or education or material comfort you have, only suffering and confusion will ensue.
Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lamaborn 1935The Little Book of Buddhism (2000)
- Love
I am inclined to believe that few attacks either of ridicule or invective make much noise, but by the help of those they provoke.
Samuel Johnson1709–1784Letter to Hester Thrale (5 July 1783)
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.
Jesus7 BC–AD 30The Sermon on the Mount
- Forgiveness
- Love