Was it a friend or foe that spread these lies? Nay, who but infants question in such wise, ’twas one of my most intimate enemies.
—Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828–82) English Poet, Painter, Translator
We have met the enemy and it is us.
—Walt Kelly (1913–73) American Cartoonist
The wise learn many things from their enemies.
—Aristophanes (447–386 BCE) Greek Comic Playwright
A doubtful friend is worse than a certain enemy. Let a man be one thing or the other, and we then know how to meet him.
—Aesop (620–564 BCE) Greek Fabulist
A man can’t be too careful in the choice of his enemies.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
The person who builds a character makes foes.
—Owen D. Young (1874–1962) American Businessperson, Lawyer, Diplomat
One good punch on your enemy’s nose, gives more pleasure than hearing well-meaning advice from your elders.
—Tibetan Proverb
Five enemies of peace inhabit with us — avarice, ambition, envy, anger, and pride; if these were to be banished, we should infallibly enjoy perpetual peace.
—Petrarch (1304–74) Italian Scholar, Poet, Humanist
Instead of loving your enemies, treat your friends a little better.
—E. W. Howe (1853–1937) American Novelist, Editor
He who has a thousand friends has not a friend to spare, and he who has one enemy will meet him everywhere.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Love your Enemies, for they tell you your Faults.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
The enemies of the future are always the very nicest people.
—Christopher Morley (1890–1957) American Novelist, Essayist
Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
Beware of no man more than of yourself; we carry our worst enemies within us.
—Charles Spurgeon (1834–92) English Baptist Preacher
Men of sense often learn from their enemies.—It is from their foes, not their friends, that cities learn the lesson of building high walls and ships of war; and this lesson saves their children, their homes, and their properties.
—Aristophanes (447–386 BCE) Greek Comic Playwright
When you go to dig a grave for your enemy, dig two.
—Chinese Proverb
The real enemy can always be met and conquered, or won over. Real antagonism is based on love, a love which has not recognized itself.
—Henry Miller (1891–1980) American Novelist
It is not necessary to have enemies if you go out of your way to make friends hate you.
—Frank Lane (1896–1981) American Sportsperson, Businessperson
A merely fallen enemy may rise again, but the reconciled one is truly vanquished.
—Johan Christoph Schiller
I have had a lot of adversaries in my political life, but no enemies that I can remember.
—Gerald Ford (1913–2006) American Head of State
A small debt makes a man your debtor, a large one makes him your enemy.
—Seneca the Elder (Marcus Annaeus Seneca) (c.55 BCE–c.40 CE) Roman Rhetorician
If there be no enemy there’s no fight. If no fight, no victory and if no victory there is no crown.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
In order to have an enemy, one must be somebody. — One must be a force before he can be resisted by another force — a malicious enemy is better than a clumsy friend.
—Sophie Swetchine (1782–1857) Russian Mystic, Writer
Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names.
—Unknown
Some men are more beholden to their bitterest enemies than to friends who appear to be sweetness itself. The former frequently tell the truth, but the latter never.
—Cato the Elder (Marcus Porcius Cato) (234–149 BCE) Roman Statesman