---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: An act by which we make one friend and…"
description: "\"An act by which we make one friend and one enemy is a losing game; because revenge is a much stronger principle than gratitude\" — Charles Caleb Colton"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d96/charles-caleb-colton-270_enemy_an-act-by-which-we-make-one-friend-and-o_1077276.png"
---

#  An act by which we make one friend and one enemy is a…

![“An act by which we make one friend and one enemy is a losing game; because revenge is a much stronger principle than gratitude” quote by Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d96/charles-caleb-colton-270_enemy_an-act-by-which-we-make-one-friend-and-o_1077276.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d96/charles-caleb-colton-270_enemy_an-act-by-which-we-make-one-friend-and-o_1077276.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d96/charles-caleb-colton-270_enemy_an-act-by-which-we-make-one-friend-and-o_1077276.png)

> “An act by which we make one friend and one enemy is a losing game; because revenge is a much stronger principle than gratitude”

[Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Forming a friend and an enemy simultaneously is a losing strategy; revenge outweighs gratitude.

**In simple terms:** Making friends and enemies together leads to loss; revenge is stronger than gratitude.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate gratitude and avoid revenge-driven actions.

Themes

relationships ethics conflict

Mood

reflective cautionary

Type

ethical philosophical

When to use this quote

- personal relationships
- political alliances
- business negotiations

Key Concepts

reciprocity revenge gratitude social dynamics

Questions to Reflect On

- When have you chosen revenge over gratitude?
- How can you transform rivalry into cooperation?

A Different Perspective

Revenge can perpetuate cycles of hostility.

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[Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friend/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Gratitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratitude/) [One friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/one-friend/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Revenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revenge/)

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