What do we live for, if it is not to make life less difficult for each other?
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
Take care that no one hates you justly.
—Publilius Syrus (fl.85–43 BCE) Syrian-born Roman Latin Writer
Resentment seems to have been given us by nature for defense, and for defense only; it is the safeguard of justice, and the security of innocence.
—George Goodman (b.1930) American Economist, Author
The passion of hatred is so durable and so inveterate, that the surest prognostic of death in a sick man is a wish for reconciliation.
—Jean de La Bruyere (1645–96) French Satiric Moralist, Author
Hatred of enemies is easier and more intense than love of friends. But from men who are more anxious to injure opponents than to benefit the world at large no great good is to be expected.
—Bertrand A. Russell (1872–1970) British Philosopher, Mathematician, Social Critic
That one I love who is incapable of ill will, and returns love for hatred. Living beyond the reach of I and mind, and of pain and pleasure, full of mercy, contented, self-controlled, with all his heart and all his mind given to Me—with such a one I am in love.
—The Bhagavad Gita Hindu Scripture
Hatred is inveterate anger.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
Hatred is self-punishment. Hatred it the coward’s revenge for being intimidated.
—Hosea Ballou (1771–1852) American Theologian
Bitterness imprisons life; love releases it.
—Harry Emerson Fosdick (1878–1969) American Baptist Minister
Hate is always a clash between our spirit and someone else’s body.
—Cesare Pavese (1908–50) Italian Novelist, Poet, Critic, Translator
If there is any person whom you dislike, that is the one of whom you should never speak.
—Richard Cecil
Hatred paralyzes life; love releases it. Hatred confuses life; love harmonizes it. Hatred darkens life; love illuminates it.
—Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–68) American Civil Rights Leader, Clergyman
Thousands are hated, while none are loved without a real cause.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater (1741–1801) Swiss Theologian, Poet
Hatred can be overcome only by love.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
If you hate your enemies, you will contract such a vicious habit of mind as by degrees will break out upon those who are your friends, or those who are indifferent to you.
—Plutarch (c.46–c.120 CE) Greek Biographer, Philosopher
Oppose not rage while rage is in its force, but give it way a while and let it waste.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Hatred is gained as much by good works as by evil.
—Niccolo Machiavelli (1469–1527) Florentine Political Philosopher
There is no faculty of the human soul so persistent and universal as that of hatred.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
From the deepest desires often come the deadliest hate.
—Socrates (469BCE–399BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher
For hatred does not cease by hatred at any time: hatred ceases by love, this is an old rule.
—The Dhammapada Buddhist Anthology of Verses
If the will remains in protest, it stays dependent on that which it is protesting against.
—Rollo May (1909–94) American Philosopher
It is human nature to hate him whom you have injured.
—Tacitus (56–117) Roman Orator, Historian
Hating people is like burning down your own house to get rid of a rat.
—Harry Emerson Fosdick (1878–1969) American Baptist Minister
Fraud and deceit are ever in a hurry.—Take time for all things.—Great haste makes great waste.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Wisely and slow;—they stumble that run fast.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
A man who lives, not by what he loves but what he hates, is a sick man.
—Archibald MacLeish (1892–1982) American Poet, Dramatist
If we miraculously became the people we hate, how lovable we would find ourselves.
—Unknown
Hatred is something peculiar. You will always find it strongest and most violent where there is the lowest degree of culture.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Many can bear adversity, but few contempt.
—Common Proverb
Resentments are burdens we don’t need to carry.
—Unknown
Hatred is the vice of narrow souls; they feed it with all their littleness, and make it the pretext of base tyrannies.
—Honore de Balzac (1799–1850) French Novelist
Some evils are cured by contempt.
—Common Proverb
Hate pollutes the mind.
—Unknown
Anger may repast with thee for an hour, but not repose for a night; the continuance of anger is hatred, the continuance of hatred turns malice.
—Francis Quarles (1592–1644) English Religious Poet
Never in this world can hatred be stilled by hatred; it will be stilled only by non-hatred—this is the law of eternal.
—Buddhist Teaching
Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned,
Nor hell a fury like a woman scorned.
—William Congreve (1670–1729) English Playwright, Poet
Hate would destroy him who hated.
—Louis L’Amour (1908–88) American Novelist, Short-story Writer
There is no medicine to cure hatred.
—African Proverb
No one can be despised by another until he has learned to despise himself.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
I shall never permit myself to stoop so low as to hate any man.
—Booker T. Washington (1856–1915) African-American Educationist
We can scarcely hate anyone that we know.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
Passionate hatred can give meaning and purpose to an empty life.
—Eric Hoffer (1902–83) American Philosopher, Author
Although you may spend your life killing, You will not exhaust all your foes. But if you quell your own anger, your real enemy will be slain.
—Nagarjuna (150–250) Indian Buddhist Monk-Philosopher
Do nothing hastily but catching of fleas.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
Hatred is a boomerang which is sure to hit you harder than the one at whom you throw it.
—Unknown
Hatreds are the cinders of affection.
—Walter Raleigh (1552–1618) English Courtier, Navigator, Poet
Hatred is the madness of the heart.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron) (1788–1824) English Romantic Poet
Hatreds not vowed and concealed are to be feared more than those openly declared.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
One drop of hatred left in the cup of joy turns the most blissful draught into poison.
—Friedrich Schiller (1759–1805) German Poet, Dramatist
Anger, if not restrained, is frequently more hurtful to us than the injury that provokes it.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian