--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Do I not damage my enemies after i make…" description: "\"Do I not damage my enemies after i make them my close friends?\" — Abraham Lincoln" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/409/abraham-lincoln-88_close-friends_do-i-not-damage-my-enemies-after-i-make_1867531.png" --- # Do I not damage my enemies after i make them my close… ![“Do I not damage my enemies after i make them my close friends?” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/409/abraham-lincoln-88_close-friends_do-i-not-damage-my-enemies-after-i-make_1867531.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/409/abraham-lincoln-88_close-friends_do-i-not-damage-my-enemies-after-i-make_1867531.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/409/abraham-lincoln-88_close-friends_do-i-not-damage-my-enemies-after-i-make_1867531.png) > “Do I not damage my enemies after i make them my close friends?” [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Questioning whether turning enemies into friends harms them **In simple terms:** Transforming foes into allies can be ethically complex Key Takeaway Reflect on the impact of befriending former enemies Themes ethics conflict friendship Mood thoughtful serious Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - negotiations - post‑war reconciliation - team building Key Concepts moral philosophy psychology of forgiveness Questions to Reflect On - What responsibilities arise when befriending an enemy? - Can trust be rebuilt fully? A Different Perspective Friendship may not always resolve underlying harm ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Close Friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/close-friend/) [Close friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/close-friends/) [Damage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/damage/) [Enemies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemies/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friend/) [Friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friends/) ## Related quotes > [Am I not destroying my enemies when I make friends of them?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/am-i-not-destroying-my-enemies-when-i-make-friends-of-them/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [The best way to get rid of your enemies is to make them your friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/the-best-way-to-get-rid-of-your-enemies-is-to-make-them-your-friends/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Do I not destroy my enemies when I make them my friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/do-i-not-destroy-my-enemies-when-i-make-them-my-friends/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I destroy my enemies when I make them my friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-destroy-my-enemies-when-i-make-them-my-friends/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [“I destroy my enemies when I make them my friends.” ~Abraham Lincoln”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-ilian/i-destroy-my-enemies-when-i-make-them-my-friends-abraham-lincoln/) [George Ilian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-ilian/) > [The judgments our enemies make about us come nearer to the truth than those we make about ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-judgments-our-enemies-make-about-us-come-nearer-to-the-truth-than/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [I have a few very close friends, then I have some good friends, lots of acquaintances and a large mass of people I tolerate!..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-have-a-few-very-close-friends-then-i-have-some-good-friends-lots-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You will look back on the times you laughed and you will cry. You will look back on the times you cried, and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sweetangelunknown/you-will-look-back-on-the-times-you-laughed-and-you-will-cry-you-will/) Sweetangelunknown > [I didn't see conflict during the Vietnam War, but I did lose close friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-buffer/i-didn-t-see-conflict-during-the-vietnam-war-but-i-did-lose-close/) [Michael Buffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-buffer/) > [Alex,do you remember this time?the time when we were best budds used to talk all the time about snything and everything?i miss those times,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamika-leeigh/alex-do-you-remember-this-time-the-time-when-we-were-best-budds-used/) [Tamika-leeigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamika-leeigh/) > [Over the years, I have created close friendships with many successful men, many of whom I have made a lot of money for through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-roth/over-the-years-i-have-created-close-friendships-with-many-successful/) [Carol Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-roth/) > [“But by the time those acquaintances became close friends, it was too late. 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You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bergmann/an-english-comedian-once-explained-the-popularity-of-umlauts-among/) David Bergmann > [Drifting away from close friends, is one of the shittiest feelings ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rona-mae-batas/drifting-away-from-close-friends-is-one-of-the-shittiest-feelings-ever/) Rona Mae Batas ## More by Abraham Lincoln > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/all-that-i-am-or-ever-hope-to-be-i-owe-to-my-angel-mother/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [While the people retain their virtue and vigilance, no administration, by any extreme of wickedness or folly, can very seriously injure the government in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/while-the-people-retain-their-virtue-and-vigilance-no-administration/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I could not have slept tonight if I had left that helpless little creature to perish on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-could-not-have-slept-tonight-if-i-had-left-that-helpless-little/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Let us at all times remember that all American citizens are brothers of a common country, and should dwell together in bonds of fraternal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/let-us-at-all-times-remember-that-all-american-citizens-are-brothers/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [If you wish to be a lawyer, attach no consequence to the place you are in, or the person you are with; but get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/if-you-wish-to-be-a-lawyer-attach-no-consequence-to-the-place-you-are/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [As we keep or break the Sabbath Day we nobly save or meanly lose the last best hope by which man rises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/as-we-keep-or-break-the-sabbath-day-we-nobly-save-or-meanly-lose-the/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Tell the truth and you won't have so much to remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/tell-the-truth-and-you-won-t-have-so-much-to-remember/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [With high hope for the future, no prediction is ventured.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/with-high-hope-for-the-future-no-prediction-is-ventured/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [We know, Southern men declare that their slaves are better off than hired laborers amongst us. How little they know, whereof they speak! There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/we-know-southern-men-declare-that-their-slaves-are-better-off-than/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I am glad to see that a system of labor prevails under which laborers can strike when they want to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-am-glad-to-see-that-a-system-of-labor-prevails-under-which-laborers/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I don't like that man. I must get to know him better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-don-t-like-that-man-i-must-get-to-know-him-better/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [In this sad world of ours, sorrow comes to all; and to the young, it comes with bitterest agony because it takes them unawares.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/in-this-sad-world-of-ours-sorrow-comes-to-all-and-to-the-young-it/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [The man does not live who is more devoted to peace than I am. None who would do more to preserve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/the-man-does-not-live-who-is-more-devoted-to-peace-than-i-am-none-who/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) [Explore all 1,437 Abraham Lincoln quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) ## More Close friends quotes > [I don't have alot of people to talk to. 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