--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He makes no friend who never made a foe." description: "\"He makes no friend who never made a foe.\" — Alfred Lord Tennyson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f8/alfred-lord-tennyson-521_foe_he-makes-no-friend-who-never-made-a-foe_1871468.png" --- # He makes no friend who never made a foe. ![“He makes no friend who never made a foe.” quote by Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f8/alfred-lord-tennyson-521_foe_he-makes-no-friend-who-never-made-a-foe_1871468.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f8/alfred-lord-tennyson-521_foe_he-makes-no-friend-who-never-made-a-foe_1871468.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f8/alfred-lord-tennyson-521_foe_he-makes-no-friend-who-never-made-a-foe_1871468.png) > “He makes no friend who never made a foe.” [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. One cannot avoid conflict; having no enemies often means lacking strong convictions or influence. **In simple terms:** Friends and foes both shape character. Key Takeaway Embrace healthy challenges. Themes conflict relationships integrity power Mood thoughtful serious Type literary reflective When to use this quote - politics - business negotiations - personal relationships Key Concepts philosophy social dynamics leadership Questions to Reflect On - What does having a foe teach you? - How can you balance diplomacy with standing up for yourself? A Different Perspective Avoiding conflict may lead to passivity and loss of agency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Foe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foe/) [Friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friend/) [Friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friends/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Military](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military/) ## Related quotes > [Your son at five is your master, at ten your slave, at fifteen your double, and after that, your friend or foe, depending on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hasdai-ibn-shaprut/your-son-at-five-is-your-master-at-ten-your-slave-at-fifteen-your/) Hasdai ibn Shaprut > [In criticism I will be bold, and as sternly, absolutely just with friend and foe. From this purpose nothing shall turn me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-allan-poe/in-criticism-i-will-be-bold-and-as-sternly-absolutely-just-with/) [Edgar Allan Poe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-allan-poe/) > [Do not look at anybody in terms of friend or foe, brother or cousin; do not fritter away your mental energies in thoughts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adi-shankara/do-not-look-at-anybody-in-terms-of-friend-or-foe-brother-or-cousin-do-2/) [Adi Shankara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adi-shankara/) > [Do not look at anybody in terms of friend or foe, brother or cousin; do not fritter away your mental energies in thoughts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adi-shankara/do-not-look-at-anybody-in-terms-of-friend-or-foe-brother-or-cousin-do/) [Adi Shankara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adi-shankara/) > [Intemperate wits will spare neither friend nor foe, and make themselves the common enemies of mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-l-estrange/intemperate-wits-will-spare-neither-friend-nor-foe-and-make/) [Roger L'Estrange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-l-estrange/) > [Trust not yourself, but your defects to know, make use of every friend and every foe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/trust-not-yourself-but-your-defects-to-know-make-use-of-every-friend/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [He is wise that can make a friend of a foe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ray/he-is-wise-that-can-make-a-friend-of-a-foe/) [John Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ray/) > [Was it a friend or foe that spread these lies; Nay, who but infants question in such wise, twas one of my most intimate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-gabriel-rossetti/was-it-a-friend-or-foe-that-spread-these-lies-nay-who-but-infants/) [Dante Gabriel Rossetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-gabriel-rossetti/) > [I have known war as few men now living know it. It's very destructiveness on both friend and foe has rendered it useless as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/i-have-known-war-as-few-men-now-living-know-it-it-s-very/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) > [Observe with both friend and foe the ordinary rules of courtesy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alveda-king/observe-with-both-friend-and-foe-the-ordinary-rules-of-courtesy/) [Alveda King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alveda-king/) > [“what makes you my friend if you doubt my intentions?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/usman-iqbal/what-makes-you-my-friend-if-you-doubt-my-intentions/) Usman Iqbal > [“You know what it is about someone that makes them a friend? A friend doesn’t just say things; a friend does.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/you-know-what-it-is-about-someone-that-makes-them-a-friend-a-friend/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [Rejoicing in our joy, not suffering over our suffering, makes someone a friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/rejoicing-in-our-joy-not-suffering-over-our-suffering-makes-someone-a/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“A true friend will never do match-making if they dont like the person that makes their friend Happy”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chime/a-true-friend-will-never-do-match-making-if-they-dont-like-the-person/) chime > [Love makes your friend a little dearer. Joy makes our heart a little lighter. Faith makes our path a little clearer. Hope make our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-makes-your-friend-a-little-dearer-joy-makes-our-heart-a-little/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Alfred Lord Tennyson > [Faith and unfaith can ne'er be equal powers; Unfaith is aught is want of faith in all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/faith-and-unfaith-can-ne-er-be-equal-powers-unfaith-is-aught-is-want/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [There is sweet music here that softer falls Than petals from blown roses on the grass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/there-is-sweet-music-here-that-softer-falls-than-petals-from-blown/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [The still affection of the heart Became an outward breathing type, That into stillness past again, And left a want unknown before; Although the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/the-still-affection-of-the-heart-became-an-outward-breathing-type/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [I do but sing because I must; and pipe but as the linnets sing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/i-do-but-sing-because-i-must-and-pipe-but-as-the-linnets-sing/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [Here about the beach I wandered, nourishing a youth sublime With the fairy tales of science, and the long result of Time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/here-about-the-beach-i-wandered-nourishing-a-youth-sublime-with-the/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [So now I have sworn to bury All this dead body of hate I feel so free and so clear By the loss of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/so-now-i-have-sworn-to-bury-all-this-dead-body-of-hate-i-feel-so-free/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [The jingling of the guinea helps the hurt that Honor feels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/the-jingling-of-the-guinea-helps-the-hurt-that-honor-feels/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [I come from haunts of coot and hern, I make a sudden sally And sparkle out among the fern, To bicker down a valley.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/i-come-from-haunts-of-coot-and-hern-i-make-a-sudden-sally-and-sparkle/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [Willows whiten, aspens quiver, Little breezes dusk and shiver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/willows-whiten-aspens-quiver-little-breezes-dusk-and-shiver/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [Cast all your cares on God; that anchor holds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/cast-all-your-cares-on-god-that-anchor-holds/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [Such a one do I remember, whom to look at was love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/such-a-one-do-i-remember-whom-to-look-at-was-love/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [If Nature put not forth her power About the opening of the flower, Who is it that could live an hour?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/if-nature-put-not-forth-her-power-about-the-opening-of-the-flower-who/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [As the husband is the wife is; thou art mated with a clown, As the grossness of his nature will have weight to drag…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/as-the-husband-is-the-wife-is-thou-art-mated-with-a-clown-as-the/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [Sin is too stupid to see beyond itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/sin-is-too-stupid-to-see-beyond-itself/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [Thou madest man, he knows not why, he thinks he was not made to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/thou-madest-man-he-knows-not-why-he-thinks-he-was-not-made-to-die/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) [Explore all 501 Alfred Lord Tennyson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) ## More Foe quotes > [No greater victory can be won by citizens or soldiers than to transform temporary foes into permanent friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/no-greater-victory-can-be-won-by-citizens-or-soldiers-than-to/) [William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/) > [There is no occasion for our rejoicing at a foe's death, because our own life will also not last forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-vaughan/there-is-no-occasion-for-our-rejoicing-at-a-foe-s-death-because-our/) [Bill Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-vaughan/) > [There is a destiny in war, to which a brave man knows how to submit with the same courage that he faces his foes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-f-cooper/there-is-a-destiny-in-war-to-which-a-brave-man-knows-how-to-submit/) [James F. Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-f-cooper/) > [Our particular principles of religion are a subject of accountability to our god alone. I enquire after no man's and trouble none with mine;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/our-particular-principles-of-religion-are-a-subject-of-accountability/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Ye shall only have foes to be hated; but not foes to be despised: ye must be proud of your foes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/ye-shall-only-have-foes-to-be-hated-but-not-foes-to-be-despised-ye/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [If our inward griefs were written on our brows, how many who are envied now would be pitied. It would seem that they had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-metastasio/if-our-inward-griefs-were-written-on-our-brows-how-many-who-are/) [Pietro Metastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pietro-metastasio/) > [Who then will dare to say I'm weak or timid? No, they'll say I'm loyal as a friend, ruthless as a foe, so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/who-then-will-dare-to-say-i-m-weak-or-timid-no-they-ll-say-i-m-loyal/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [During his presidency, Truman and the Republicans were locked in a series of furious assaults on each other that outraged him and made Truman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-dallek/during-his-presidency-truman-and-the-republicans-were-locked-in-a/) [Robert Dallek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-dallek/) > [THE POISON TREE I was angry with my friend: I told my wrath, my wrath did end. I was angry with my foe; I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/the-poison-tree-i-was-angry-with-my-friend-i-told-my-wrath-my-wrath/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [“A good enemy can be better than the best of friend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simona-panova/a-good-enemy-can-be-better-than-the-best-of-friend/) [Simona Panova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simona-panova/) > [I have not the particular shining bauble or feather in my cap for crowds to gaze at or kneel to, but I have power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-cromwell/i-have-not-the-particular-shining-bauble-or-feather-in-my-cap-for/) [Oliver Cromwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-cromwell/) > [Under the Mountain dark and tall The King has come unto his hall! His foe is dead, the Worm of Dread, And ever so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/under-the-mountain-dark-and-tall-the-king-has-come-unto-his-hall-his/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The downfall of civilized states tends to come not from the direct assaults of foes, but from internal decay combined with the consequences of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-h-liddell-hart/the-downfall-of-civilized-states-tends-to-come-not-from-the-direct/) [B. H. Liddell Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-h-liddell-hart/) > [The tree can teach you forbearance and tolerance. It offers shade to all, irrespective of age, sex or religion, nationality or status. It helps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-tree-can-teach-you-forbearance-and-tolerance-it-offers-shade-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Bring war material with you from home, but forage on the enemy... use the conquered foe to augment one's own strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/bring-war-material-with-you-from-home-but-forage-on-the-enemy-use-the/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) [Browse all 482 Foe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "He makes no friend who never made a foe.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alfred Lord Tennyson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/he-makes-no-friend-who-never-made-a-foe/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Foe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/he-makes-no-friend-who-never-made-a-foe/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f8/alfred-lord-tennyson-521_foe_he-makes-no-friend-who-never-made-a-foe_1871468.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f8/alfred-lord-tennyson-521_foe_he-makes-no-friend-who-never-made-a-foe_1871468.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f8/alfred-lord-tennyson-521_foe_he-makes-no-friend-who-never-made-a-foe_1871468.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“He makes no friend who never made a foe.” — Alfred Lord Tennyson", "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": "Alfred Lord Tennyson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "He makes no friend who never...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/he-makes-no-friend-who-never-made-a-foe/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/he-makes-no-friend-who-never-made-a-foe/#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 } } ] } ```