Bribery is the enemy of justice.
—African Proverb
Bear patiently with a rival.
—Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso) (c.43 BCE–c.18 CE) Roman Poet
An intelligent enemy is better than a stupid friend.
—African Proverb
Better a bite from a friend than a caress from an enemy.
—Danish Proverb
The moment at which two people, approaching from opposite ends of a long passageway, recognize each other and immediately pretend they haven t. This is to avoid the ghastly embarrassment of having to continue recognizing each other the whole length of the corridor.
—Douglas Adams (1952–2001) English Novelist, Scriptwriter
He who flatters me is my enemy, who blames me is my teacher.
—Chinese Proverb
Do not keep secret from your friend what your enemy already knows.
—Danish Proverb
Why do grandparents and grandchildren get along so well? They have the same enemy—the mother.
—Claudette Colbert (1903–1996) American Actress
A man can’t be too careful in the choice of his enemies.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
When there is no enemy within, the enemies outside cannot hurt you.
—African Proverb
Our enemies approach nearer to truth in their judgments of us than we do ourselves.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
The weakness of an enemy forms part of our own strength.
—Common Proverb
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
O wise man, wash your hands of that friend who associates with your enemies.
—Sa’Di (Musharrif Od-Din Muslih Od-Din) (c.1213–91) Persian Poet
The fire you kindle for your enemy often burns yourself more than him.
—Chinese 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 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
Our enemies come nearer the truth in the opinions they form of us than we do in our opinion of ourselves.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
If you want enemies, excel others; if you want friends, let others excel you.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
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
A friend is one who has the same enemies as you have.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
Have you fifty friends?—it is not enough.—Have you one enemy?—it is too much.
—Italian Proverb
A weapon is an enemy even to its owner.
—Turkish Proverb
Better a slap from your friend than a kiss from your enemy.
—Dutch Proverb
No prudent antagonist thinks light of his adversaries.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Though your enemy is the size of an ant, look upon him as an elephant.
—Danish Proverb
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
Who are enemies? Those who oppose each others will.
—M. C. Richards (1916–99) American Poet, Potter, Writer
When you go to dig a grave for your enemy, dig two.
—Chinese Proverb
One good punch on your enemy’s nose, gives more pleasure than hearing well-meaning advice from your elders.
—Tibetan Proverb
Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
Our greatest foes, and whom we must chiefly combat, are within.
—Miguel de Cervantes (1547–1616) Spanish Novelist
One enemy is too many; a hundred friends too few.
—Unknown
Love your Enemies, for they tell you your Faults.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Scratch a lover and find an enemy.
—German Proverb
Your friend will swallow your mistakes; your enemy will present them on a plate.
—Arabic Proverb
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 guilty conscience is a lively enemy.
—Indian Proverb
I would rather have a dog as a friend than an enemy.
—German Proverb
A trade not properly learned is an enemy.
—Irish Proverb
I don’t have a warm personal enemy left. They’ve all died off. I miss them terribly because they helped define me.
—Clare Boothe Luce (1903–87) American Playwright, Diplomat, Journalist, Diplomat, Elected Rep
An old enemy never becomes a friend.
—Greek Proverb
You can discover what your enemy fears most by observing the means he uses to frighten you.
—Eric Hoffer (1902–83) American Philosopher, Author
I have no trouble with my enemies. I can take care of my enemies all right. But my damn friends—they’re the ones that keep me walking the floor nights!
—Warren G. Harding (1865–1923) American Head of State, Businessperson
Make no enemies.—He is insignificant indeed who can do thee no harm.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
The enemy never sleeps.
—French Proverb
The worst tyrants are those which establish themselves in our own breasts.
—William Ellery Channing (1780–1842) American Unitarian Theologian, Poet
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
There is nothing like the sight of an old enemy down on his luck.
—Euripides (480–406 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
You may find the worst enemy or best friend in yourself.
—English Proverb