I would rather have a dog as a friend than an enemy.
—German Proverb
It is a man’s own mind, not his enemy or foe, that lures him to evil ways.
—Buddhist Teaching
Let your enemies be disarmed by the gentleness of your manner, but at the same time let them feel, the steadiness of your resentment.
—Earl of Chesterfield (1694–1773) English Statesman, Man of Letters
Our enemies approach nearer to truth in their judgments of us than we do ourselves.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Better a slap from your friend than a kiss from your enemy.
—Dutch Proverb
Instead of loving your enemies, treat your friends a little better.
—E. W. Howe (1853–1937) American Novelist, Editor
Heat not a furnace for your foe so hot that it do singe yourself.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
One reason we should love our enemies is that we made them ourselves. Another reason is that they keep us on our toes, a third reason is that we should make them our friends.
—Indian Proverb
Our enemies are our outward consciences.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
The person who builds a character makes foes.
—Owen D. Young (1874–1962) American Businessperson, Lawyer, Diplomat
I have met the enemy, and it is the eyes of other people.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
The enemy is more easily overcome if he be not suffered to enter the door of our hearts, but be resisted without the gate at his first knock.
—Thomas a Kempis (1379–1471) German Religious Priest, Writer
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
The weakness of an enemy forms part of our own strength.
—Common Proverb
The best way to destroy an enemy is to make him a friend.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
Do not keep secret from your friend what your enemy already knows.
—Danish Proverb
Enemies’ promises were made to be broken.
—Aesop (620–564 BCE) Greek Fabulist
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
Enemies are so stimulating.
—Katharine Hepburn (1907–2003) American Actor, TV Personality
A friend is one who has the same enemies as you have.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
When there is no enemy it is safe to fight.
—German Proverb
Do good to your friends to keep them, to your enemies to win them.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
A person is his own worst enemy.
—Anonymous
Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
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
A wise man profits more from his enemies than a fool from his friends.
—Baltasar Gracian (1601–58) Spanish Scholar, Prose Writer
The fire you kindle for your enemy often burns yourself more than him.
—Chinese Proverb
Give us courage and gaiety and the quiet mind. Spare to us our friends, soften to us our enemies. Bless us, if it may be, in all our innocent endeavors. If it may not, give us the strength to encounter that which is to come, that we be brave in peril, constant in tribulation, temperate in wrath, and in all changes of fortune and down to the gates of death, loyal and loving one to another.
—Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–94) Scottish Novelist
It takes your enemy and your friend, working together, to hurt you to the heart; the one to slander you and the other to get the news to you.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
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