--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A man who has made no enemies is probably…" description: "\"A man who has made no enemies is probably not a very good man.\" — Antonin Scalia" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/020/antonin-scalia-2855_enemies_a-man-who-has-made-no-enemies-is-probabl_670745.png" --- # A man who has made no enemies is probably not a very good… ![“A man who has made no enemies is probably not a very good man.” quote by Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/020/antonin-scalia-2855_enemies_a-man-who-has-made-no-enemies-is-probabl_670745.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/020/antonin-scalia-2855_enemies_a-man-who-has-made-no-enemies-is-probabl_670745.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/020/antonin-scalia-2855_enemies_a-man-who-has-made-no-enemies-is-probabl_670745.png) > “A man who has made no enemies is probably not a very good man.” [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A person without opponents likely lacks conviction or moral courage, suggesting mediocrity. **In simple terms:** No enemies may indicate lack of principle. Key Takeaway Cultivate conviction, even if controversial. Themes integrity morality conflict courage Mood reflective critical Type philosophical political When to use this quote - political debate - leadership decisions - personal relationships - public service Key Concepts ethical stance principle social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - Do you avoid conflict at the cost of integrity? - When is it necessary to challenge others? A Different Perspective Being universally liked can lead to complacency and moral compromise. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Enemies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemies/) [Good man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-man/) [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man/) ## Related quotes > [“In our time... a man whose enemies are faceless bureaucrats almost never wins. It is our equivalent to the anger of the gods in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaim-potok/in-our-time-a-man-whose-enemies-are-faceless-bureaucrats-almost-never/) [Chaim Potok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaim-potok/) > [A man without enemies is a man without character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-man-without-enemies-is-a-man-without-character/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“To be incapable of taking one's enemies, one's accidents, even one's misdeeds seriously for very long—that is the sign of strong, full natures in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/to-be-incapable-of-taking-one-s-enemies-one-s-accidents-even-one-s/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [A man without enemies is a dishonest man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-man-without-enemies-is-a-dishonest-man/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A man with no enemies is no good as a friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-langenhoven/a-man-with-no-enemies-is-no-good-as-a-friend/) [C.J. Langenhoven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-langenhoven/) > [Who judges best of a Man, his Enemies or himself?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/who-judges-best-of-a-man-his-enemies-or-himself/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“My grandpa used to say: “A man without enemies is a man without principals.”’ ‘Wise words,’ nodded Wolf. He felt exhausted by their fleeting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-cole/my-grandpa-used-to-say-a-man-without-enemies-is-a-man-without/) [Daniel Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-cole/) > [“Jesus told His disciples, “A man’s enemies will be the members of his household.” (Matthew 10:36)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-gallagher/jesus-told-his-disciples-a-man-s-enemies-will-be-the-members-of-his/) Steve Gallagher > [Beware of the man who has no enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/beware-of-the-man-who-has-no-enemies/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [The good man has his enemies. He would not be like His Lord if he had not. If we were without enemies we might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/the-good-man-has-his-enemies-he-would-not-be-like-his-lord-if-he-had/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [Is it not hard that even those who are with us should be against us - that a man's enemies, in some degree, should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wesley/is-it-not-hard-that-even-those-who-are-with-us-should-be-against-us/) [John Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wesley/) > [It is good that a man's enemies want him dead, for it proves he has lived a life of worth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forrest-carter/it-is-good-that-a-man-s-enemies-want-him-dead-for-it-proves-he-has/) [Forrest Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forrest-carter/) > [The truly civilized man has no enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-fletcher-dole/the-truly-civilized-man-has-no-enemies/) [Charles Fletcher Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-fletcher-dole/) > [If a man says that it is right to give every one his due, and therefore thinks within his own mind that injury is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/if-a-man-says-that-it-is-right-to-give-every-one-his-due-and/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [But primitive man had enemies real as well as imaginary, and they were not subject to priestly sorceries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-harris/but-primitive-man-had-enemies-real-as-well-as-imaginary-and-they-were/) [Paul Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-harris/) ## More by Antonin Scalia > [What is a moderate interpretation of the text? Halfway between what it really means and what you'd like it to mean?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/what-is-a-moderate-interpretation-of-the-text-halfway-between-what-it/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [If you think aficionados of a living Constitution want to bring you flexibility, think again. You think the death penalty is a good idea?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/if-you-think-aficionados-of-a-living-constitution-want-to-bring-you/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [More importantly, the Court forgets that ours is a government of laws and not of men. That means we are governed by the terms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/more-importantly-the-court-forgets-that-ours-is-a-government-of-laws/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [Wringing your hands about states' rights, forget it. They're gone. Basically, the federal government can do whatever it wants. Who's going to protect the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/wringing-your-hands-about-states-rights-forget-it-they-re-gone/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [If you condemn someone who has committed a crime to be tortured, that would be unconstitutional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/if-you-condemn-someone-who-has-committed-a-crime-to-be-tortured-that/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [Burning the flag is a form of expression. Speech doesn't just mean written words or oral words. It could be semaphore. And burning a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/burning-the-flag-is-a-form-of-expression-speech-doesn-t-just-mean/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [Being a good person begins with being a wise person. Then, when you follow your conscience, will you be headed in the right direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/being-a-good-person-begins-with-being-a-wise-person-then-when-you/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [The court's job is to uphold the Constitution and you don't call that off in times of crisis. Would the framers have allowed this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/the-court-s-job-is-to-uphold-the-constitution-and-you-don-t-call-that/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [We have laws against torture. The Constitution says nothing whatever about torture. It speaks of punishment; 'cruel and unusual' punishments are forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/we-have-laws-against-torture-the-constitution-says-nothing-whatever/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [If I have brought any message today, it is this: Have the courage to have your wisdom regarded as stupidity. Be fools for Christ.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/if-i-have-brought-any-message-today-it-is-this-have-the-courage-to/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [Many think it not only inevitable but entirely proper that liberty give way to security in times of national crisis--that, at the extremes of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/many-think-it-not-only-inevitable-but-entirely-proper-that-liberty/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [That's the argument of flexibility and it goes something like this: The Constitution is over 200 years old and societies change. It has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/that-s-the-argument-of-flexibility-and-it-goes-something-like-this/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [Why in the world would you have it interpreted by nine lawyers?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/why-in-the-world-would-you-have-it-interpreted-by-nine-lawyers/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [ Who ever thought that intimacy and spirituality \[whatever that means\] were freedoms? And if intimacy is, one would think Freedom of Intimacy is abridged… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/who-ever-thought-that-intimacy-and-spirituality-whatever-that-means/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [I'm nervous about our civic culture. I'm not sure the Internet is largely the cause of it. It's certainly the cause of careless writing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/i-m-nervous-about-our-civic-culture-i-m-not-sure-the-internet-is/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) [Explore all 146 Antonin Scalia quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) ## More Enemies quotes > [“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 > [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/) > [“If it takes night to make day, pain to know pleasure, black to make white, then doesn't it stand to reason that the depth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-snyder/if-it-takes-night-to-make-day-pain-to-know-pleasure-black-to-make/) Michael Snyder > [“Enemies Teach. Friends Preach.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tapan-ghosh/enemies-teach-friends-preach/) [Tapan Ghosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tapan-ghosh/) > [Your greatest weapon is your enemies mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buddha/your-greatest-weapon-is-your-enemies-mind/) [Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buddha/) > [“THE UNFORGIVEN Tell me if you've ever had to deal with these kinds of people: The kind who take and don't give. The kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/the-unforgiven-tell-me-if-you-ve-ever-had-to-deal-with-these-kinds-of/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [Sometimes even paranoids have enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delmore-schwartz/sometimes-even-paranoids-have-enemies/) [Delmore Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delmore-schwartz/) > [When a husband brings his wife flowers for no reason, there's a reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-mcgee/when-a-husband-brings-his-wife-flowers-for-no-reason-there-s-a-reason/) Molly McGee > [You should never hate anyone, even your worst enemies. Everyone has something good about them. You have to find the redeeming quality and love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/you-should-never-hate-anyone-even-your-worst-enemies-everyone-has/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [“Anyone who is portraying Israel as a friend is a servant of Israel. I warn some sides against turning enemies into friends and friends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sayed-hassan-nasrallah/anyone-who-is-portraying-israel-as-a-friend-is-a-servant-of-israel-i/) [Sayed Hassan Nasrallah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sayed-hassan-nasrallah/) > [No accurate thinker will judge another person by that which the other person's enemies say about him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/no-accurate-thinker-will-judge-another-person-by-that-which-the-other/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Whoever will not love his enemies cannot know the Lord and the sweetness of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit teaches us to love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silouan-the-athonite/whoever-will-not-love-his-enemies-cannot-know-the-lord-and-the/) [Silouan the Athonite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silouan-the-athonite/) > [I play basketball hard-nosed and if you're not on my team, during that 48 minutes we're enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-barnes/i-play-basketball-hard-nosed-and-if-you-re-not-on-my-team-during-that/) [Matt Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-barnes/) > [“Enemies are people who's story you haven't heard, or who's face you haven't seen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-butter/enemies-are-people-who-s-story-you-haven-t-heard-or-who-s-face-you/) Irene Butter > [A sweet thing, perspective - a chance to see your enemies so small.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/a-sweet-thing-perspective-a-chance-to-see-your-enemies-so-small/) [Stanislaw Jerzy Lec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/) [Browse all 1,888 Enemies quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemies/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A man who has made no enemies is probably not a very good man.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Antonin Scalia" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/a-man-who-has-made-no-enemies-is-probably-not-a-very-good-man/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Enemies" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/a-man-who-has-made-no-enemies-is-probably-not-a-very-good-man/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/020/antonin-scalia-2855_enemies_a-man-who-has-made-no-enemies-is-probabl_670745.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/020/antonin-scalia-2855_enemies_a-man-who-has-made-no-enemies-is-probabl_670745.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/020/antonin-scalia-2855_enemies_a-man-who-has-made-no-enemies-is-probabl_670745.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A man who has made no enemies is probably not a very good man.” — Antonin Scalia", "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": "Antonin Scalia", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A man who has made no...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/a-man-who-has-made-no-enemies-is-probably-not-a-very-good-man/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/a-man-who-has-made-no-enemies-is-probably-not-a-very-good-man/#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 } } ] } ```