You can discover what your enemy fears most by observing the means he uses to frighten you.
—Eric Hoffer (1902–83) American Philosopher, Author
There once was a bald man who sat down after work on a hot summer’s day. A fly came up and kept buzzing about his bald pate, and stinging him from time to time. The man aimed a blow at his little enemy, but – whack – his palm come on his own head instead; again the fly tormented him, but this time the man was wiser and said: “you will only injure yourself if you take notice of dispicable enemies.”
—Aesop (620–564 BCE) Greek Fabulist
Only enemies speak the truth; friends and lovers lie endlessly, caught in the web of duty.
—Stephen King (b.1947) American Novelist, Short-Story Writer, Screenwriter, Columnist, Film Director
One good punch on your enemy’s nose, gives more pleasure than hearing well-meaning advice from your elders.
—Tibetan Proverb
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
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
If thine enemy offend thee, give his child a drum.
—Unknown
Speak well of your enemies… you made them.
—Indian Proverb
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
Make no enemies.—He is insignificant indeed who can do thee no harm.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
Whatever the number of a man’s friends, there will be times in his life when he has one too few; but if he has only one enemy, he is lucky indeed if he has not one too many.
—Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton (1803–73) British Novelist, Poet, Politician
One enemy can do more hurt than ten friends can do good.
—Jonathan Swift (1667–1745) Irish Satirist
It is difficult to say who do you the most mischief, enemies with the worst intentions, or friends with the best.
—Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton (1803–73) British Novelist, Poet, Politician
An old enemy never becomes a friend.
—Greek Proverb
Even a paranoid can have enemies.
—Henry Kissinger (b.1923) American Diplomat, Academician
There is nothing like the sight of an old enemy down on his luck.
—Euripides (480–406 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
There are three kinds of enemy: the enemy himself, the friends of your enemy, and the enemies of your friends.
—Persian Proverb
You shall judge of a man by his foes as well as by his friends.
—Joseph Conrad (1857–1924) Polish-born British Novelist
The enemies of the future are always the very nicest people.
—Christopher Morley (1890–1957) American Novelist, Essayist
Choose a friend. He will help you. Alas, he deserts you. Choose an enemy. He will fight against you. Lo, he corrects and perfects you.
—Sri Chinmoy (1931–2007) Indian Yoga Teacher
I would rather have a dog as a friend than an enemy.
—German Proverb
A wise man profits more from his enemies than a fool from his friends.
—Baltasar Gracian (1601–58) Spanish Scholar, Prose Writer
A trade not properly learned is an enemy.
—Irish Proverb
Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
I have met the enemy, and it is the eyes of other people.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
No one’s enemy but his own, is generally the enemy of everybody with whom he is in relation.—His leading quality is a reckless imprudence, and a selfish pursuit of selfish enjoyments, independent of all consequences.—He runs rapidly through his means; calls, in a friendly way, on his friends, for bonds, bail, and securities; involves his nearest kin; leaves his wife a beggar, and quarters his orphans on the public; and after enjoying himself to his last guinea, entails a life of dependence upon his progeny, and dies in the ill-understood reputation of harmless folly which is more usurious to society than some positive crimes.
—Anna Brownell Jameson (1794–1860) Irish-born Literary, Art Critic
False friends are worse than bitter enemies.
—Scottish Proverb
He who flatters me is my enemy, who blames me is my teacher.
—Chinese Proverb
In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.
—Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–68) American Civil Rights Leader, Clergyman