--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we want justice for minorities and…" description: "\"If we want justice for minorities and cooled wars with our natural enemies, whether human or non-human, we must first come to terms with the minority a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c24/alan-watts-587_enemy_if-we-want-justice-for-minorities-and-co_881295.jpg" --- # If we want justice for minorities and cooled wars with our… ![“If we want justice for minorities and cooled wars with our natural enemies, whether human or non-human, we must first come to terms with the minority and the enemy in ourselves and in our own hearts, for the rascal is there as much as anywhere in the "external" world - -especially when you realize…” quote by Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c24/alan-watts-587_enemy_if-we-want-justice-for-minorities-and-co_881295.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c24/alan-watts-587_enemy_if-we-want-justice-for-minorities-and-co_881295.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c24/alan-watts-587_enemy_if-we-want-justice-for-minorities-and-co_881295.jpg) > “If we want justice for minorities and cooled wars with our natural enemies, whether human or non-human, we must first come to terms with the minority and the enemy in ourselves and in our own hearts, for the rascal is there as much as anywhere in the "external" world - -especially when you realize that the world outside your skin is as much yourself as the world inside.” [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True justice requires confronting the hostile parts within ourselves before blaming external groups. **In simple terms:** Justice starts inside us. Key Takeaway Examine your own biases. Themes justice self-awareness conflict compassion Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal relationships - social activism - mediation - conflict resolution Key Concepts psychology philosophy inner work Questions to Reflect On - What inner prejudices hinder your sense of justice? - How can you nurture empathy toward perceived enemies? A Different Perspective Self‑examination can be painful and may reveal uncomfortable truths. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [External world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/external-world/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Minorities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minorities/) [Minority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minority/) [Motivational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational/) [Natural enemies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural-enemies/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Rascals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rascals/) [Wands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wands/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [But we try to pretend, you see, that the external world exists altogether independently of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/but-we-try-to-pretend-you-see-that-the-external-world-exists/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [Comedians and Feminists are natural enemies. Because stereotypically speaking, feminists can't take a joke and comedians can't take criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-c-k/comedians-and-feminists-are-natural-enemies-because-stereotypically/) [Louis C. K](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-c-k/) > [Liberty, next to religion has been the motive of good deeds and the common pretext of crime, from the sowing of the seed at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/liberty-next-to-religion-has-been-the-motive-of-good-deeds-and-the-2/) [Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/) > [I considered the British as our natural enemies, and as the only nation on earth who wished us ill from the bottom of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-considered-the-british-as-our-natural-enemies-and-as-the-only/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Trade is the natural enemy of all violent passions. Trade loves moderation, delights in compromise, and is most careful to avoid anger. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/trade-is-the-natural-enemy-of-all-violent-passions-trade-loves-2/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [Father and son are natural enemies and each is happier and more secure in keeping it that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/father-and-son-are-natural-enemies-and-each-is-happier-and-more/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [I've always been politically minded and against the status quo. It's pretty basic when you're brought up, like I was, to hate and fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/i-ve-always-been-politically-minded-and-against-the-status-quo-it-s/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [What binds us together is not common education, common race, common income levels, common politics, common nationality, common accents, common jobs, or anything else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-a-carson/what-binds-us-together-is-not-common-education-common-race-common/) [D. A. Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-a-carson/) > [Reason and free inquiry are the only effective agents against error. Give a loose to them, they will support the true religion by bringing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/reason-and-free-inquiry-are-the-only-effective-agents-against-error/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Besides, humans aren't prey. They are our natural enemies. 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Shark, sees his father in the water, he's not thinking, Hey dad, wassup ?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-titus/fathers-and-sons-are-natural-enemies-look-at-any-species-shark-sees/) [Christopher Titus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-titus/) > [The artist and the multitude are natural enemies. They always will be, both ways. The artist is an enemy of the multitude, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-altman/the-artist-and-the-multitude-are-natural-enemies-they-always-will-be/) [Robert Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-altman/) > [“Crabs and medusas were my natural enemies. Crabs because I once got bitten on my bum as I had fallen asleep on a rock…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patric-juillet/crabs-and-medusas-were-my-natural-enemies-crabs-because-i-once-got/) [Patric Juillet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patric-juillet/) ## More by Alan Watts > [“The self-conscious feedback mechanism of the cortex allows us the hallucination that we are two souls in one body -a rational soul and an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/the-self-conscious-feedback-mechanism-of-the-cortex-allows-us-the/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [The more we try to catch hold of the present moment the more elusive it becomes. 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Just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/as-you-make-more-and-more-powerful-microscopic-instruments-the/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [We are at the moment looking at space as something to be entered by the tremendous thrust of a rocket because that is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/we-are-at-the-moment-looking-at-space-as-something-to-be-entered-by/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [A philosopher is a sort of intellectual yokel who gawks at things that sensible people take for granted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/a-philosopher-is-a-sort-of-intellectual-yokel-who-gawks-at-things/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [The best way to convince someone is by making him realize that what you speak came from his own mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/the-best-way-to-convince-someone-is-by-making-him-realize-that-what/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [The myths underlying our culture and underlying our common sense have not taught us to feel identical with the universe, but only parts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/the-myths-underlying-our-culture-and-underlying-our-common-sense-have/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [To feel that life is meaningless unless “I” can be permanent is like having fallen desperately in love with an inch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/to-feel-that-life-is-meaningless-unless-i-can-be-permanent-is-like/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) [Explore all 460 Alan Watts quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) ## More Enemy quotes > [Shall there be truth between us, as two men? 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Prearranged surprises are rare and difficult because in order to plan one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-henri-jomini/the-surprise-of-an-army-is-now-next-to-an-impossibility-prearranged/) [Antoine-Henri Jomini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-henri-jomini/) > [“Never let your Enemies become your Advocates.” by A. K. Hasan”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-k-hasan/never-let-your-enemies-become-your-advocates-by-a-k-hasan/) A.K. Hasan > [The concept of humanity is an especially useful ideological instrument of imperialist expansion, and in its ethical-humanitarian form it is a specific vehicle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-schmitt/the-concept-of-humanity-is-an-especially-useful-ideological/) [Carl Schmitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-schmitt/) > [Pain held no terror for him. Pain was, if not friend, then family, something he had grown up with in his crèche, learning to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/pain-held-no-terror-for-him-pain-was-if-not-friend-then-family/) [Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) > [To achieve victory we must mass our forces at the hub of all power & movement. The enemy's 'Center of Gravity'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-achieve-victory-we-must-mass-our-forces-at-the-hub-of-all-power/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't see why we and the Chinese should have to be enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/i-don-t-see-why-we-and-the-chinese-should-have-to-be-enemies/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [The invention of gunpowder and the constant improvement of firearms are enough in themselves to show that the advance of civilization has done nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/the-invention-of-gunpowder-and-the-constant-improvement-of-firearms/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [Perfection is the enemy of greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/perfection-is-the-enemy-of-greatness/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [In this business, you find the enemy, then go after and destroy him. 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Friends Preach.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tapan-ghosh/enemies-teach-friends-preach/) [Tapan Ghosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tapan-ghosh/) [Browse all 7,981 Enemy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If we want justice for minorities and cooled wars with our natural enemies, whether human or non-human, we must first come to terms with the minority and the enemy in ourselves and in our own hearts, for the rascal is there as much as anywhere in the \"external\" world - -especially when you realize that the world outside your skin is as much yourself as the world inside.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alan Watts" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/if-we-want-justice-for-minorities-and-cooled-wars-with-our-natural/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Enemy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/if-we-want-justice-for-minorities-and-cooled-wars-with-our-natural/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c24/alan-watts-587_enemy_if-we-want-justice-for-minorities-and-co_881295.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c24/alan-watts-587_enemy_if-we-want-justice-for-minorities-and-co_881295.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c24/alan-watts-587_enemy_if-we-want-justice-for-minorities-and-co_881295.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If we want justice for minorities and cooled wars with our natural enemies, whether human or non-human, we…” — Alan Watts", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Alan Watts", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If we want justice for minorities...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/if-we-want-justice-for-minorities-and-cooled-wars-with-our-natural/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/if-we-want-justice-for-minorities-and-cooled-wars-with-our-natural/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```