--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is the enemy who can truly teach us to…" description: "\"It is the enemy who can truly teach us to practice the virtues of compassion and tolerance.\" — Dalai Lama" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a0/dalai-lama-89_character_it-is-the-enemy-who-can-truly-teach-us-t_3105756.jpg" --- # It is the enemy who can truly teach us to practice the… ![“It is the enemy who can truly teach us to practice the virtues of compassion and tolerance.” quote by Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a0/dalai-lama-89_character_it-is-the-enemy-who-can-truly-teach-us-t_3105756.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a0/dalai-lama-89_character_it-is-the-enemy-who-can-truly-teach-us-t_3105756.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a0/dalai-lama-89_character_it-is-the-enemy-who-can-truly-teach-us-t_3105756.jpg) > “It is the enemy who can truly teach us to practice the virtues of compassion and tolerance.” [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Adversaries can reveal the need for compassion and tolerance, teaching us to grow morally. **In simple terms:** Enemies teach us compassion. Key Takeaway Learn from conflict to become more tolerant. Themes compassion tolerance conflict growth Mood inspirational thoughtful Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - interpersonal disputes - social activism - education - leadership Key Concepts moral development empathy psychology Questions to Reflect On - How can you practice compassion toward a hostile person? - What limits does tolerance have? A Different Perspective Compassion alone may not resolve deep‑seated hostilities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice/) [Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual/) [Tolerance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tolerance/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) ## Related quotes > [Education is the way to achieve far-reaching results, it is the proper way to promote compassion and tolerance in society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/education-is-the-way-to-achieve-far-reaching-results-it-is-the-proper/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [The great pleasure that comes from reading poets such as Mark Doty and Marianne Moore is the realisation that the essential virtues - compassion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burnside/the-great-pleasure-that-comes-from-reading-poets-such-as-mark-doty/) [John Burnside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burnside/) > [My message is always the same: to cultivate and practice love, kindness, compassion and tolerance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/my-message-is-always-the-same-to-cultivate-and-practice-love-kindness/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [Don't ever mistake my silence for ignorance, my calmness for acceptance or my kindness for weakness. Compassion and tolerance are not a sign of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/don-t-ever-mistake-my-silence-for-ignorance-my-calmness-for-3/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [Compassion and tolerance are not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/compassion-and-tolerance-are-not-a-sign-of-weakness-but-a-sign-of/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [Compassion, tolerance, forgiveness and a sense of self-discipline are qualities that help us lead our daily lives with a calm mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/compassion-tolerance-forgiveness-and-a-sense-of-self-discipline-are/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [If there ever was in the history of humanity an enemy who was truly universal, an enemy whose acts and moves trouble the entire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fidel-castro/if-there-ever-was-in-the-history-of-humanity-an-enemy-who-was-truly/) [Fidel Castro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fidel-castro/) > [The only enemy that we truly have in life is our own mind if we allow it to be so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/the-only-enemy-that-we-truly-have-in-life-is-our-own-mind-if-we-allow/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [The only thing is, people have to develop courage. 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So through that way, more concern of well being of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/we-live-within-the-environment-so-that-directly-relates-with-our/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [My belief is that the various religious traditions have great potential to increase compassion, the sense of caring for one another, and the spirit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/my-belief-is-that-the-various-religious-traditions-have-great/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [When we think carefully, we see that the brief elation we experience when appeasing sensual impulses may not be very different from what the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/when-we-think-carefully-we-see-that-the-brief-elation-we-experience/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [“So let us reflect on what is truly of value in life, what gives meaning to our lives, and set our priorities on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/so-let-us-reflect-on-what-is-truly-of-value-in-life-what-gives/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [I am the source of my own suffering, because of the habits of my mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/i-am-the-source-of-my-own-suffering-because-of-the-habits-of-my-mind/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) [Explore all 1,406 Dalai Lama quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. 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