---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That's ridiculous. The only point in…"
description: "\"That's ridiculous. The only point in having enemies is so you can defeat them, kill them, brush them aside.\" \"Or give them a chance to redeem themselve..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f17/derek-landy-826_brushes_that-s-ridiculous-the-only-point-in-havi_265919.png"
---

#  That's ridiculous. The only point in having enemies is so…

![“That's ridiculous. The only point in having enemies is so you can defeat them, kill them, brush them aside.&quot; &quot;Or give them a chance to redeem themselves.” quote by Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f17/derek-landy-826_brushes_that-s-ridiculous-the-only-point-in-havi_265919.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f17/derek-landy-826_brushes_that-s-ridiculous-the-only-point-in-havi_265919.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f17/derek-landy-826_brushes_that-s-ridiculous-the-only-point-in-havi_265919.png)

> “That's ridiculous. The only point in having enemies is so you can defeat them, kill them, brush them aside." "Or give them a chance to redeem themselves.”

[Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/)

## About This Quote

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

Suggests enemies exist to be overcome, yet also offers redemption as an alternative.

**In simple terms:** Enemies can be defeated or redeemed.

Key Takeaway

Consider both confrontation and compassion.

Themes

conflict redemption choice

Mood

thoughtful strategic

Type

philosophical motivational

When to use this quote

- leadership
- conflict resolution
- personal development

Key Concepts

moral philosophy strategic thinking personal growth

Questions to Reflect On

- When is it wiser to defeat rather than redeem?
- What risks arise from offering redemption?

A Different Perspective

Redemption may be unrealistic for some foes.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Brushes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brushes/) [Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [Defeat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defeat/) [Defeat Kill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defeat-kill-2611137/) [Enemies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemies/) [Enemies Defeat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemies-defeat-2611136/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Having Enemies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/having-enemies-2611135/) [Ridiculous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ridiculous/) [Ridiculous Point](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ridiculous-point-2611138/)

## Related quotes

> [Saying gay people shouldn't be the punchline is basically saying don't make people the punch line, which I think is ridiculous. The whole point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-eichner/saying-gay-people-shouldn-t-be-the-punchline-is-basically-saying-don/)

[Billy Eichner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eichner/)

> [I bring out the worst in my enemies and that's how I get them to defeat themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-cohn/i-bring-out-the-worst-in-my-enemies-and-that-s-how-i-get-them-to/)

[Roy Cohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-cohn/)

> [Torture is how you create enemies, not how you defeat them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/torture-is-how-you-create-enemies-not-how-you-defeat-them/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [You cannot find, make or understand true friendship without having enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-moore-colby/you-cannot-find-make-or-understand-true-friendship-without-having/)

[Frank Moore Colby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-moore-colby/)

> [In the restaurant business, you learn quickly there's no margin in having enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hickenlooper/in-the-restaurant-business-you-learn-quickly-there-s-no-margin-in/)

[John Hickenlooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hickenlooper/)

> [“About you and me, Croaker and his gang, the Lady, Silent, Darling. About all the things we had in common but still couldn’t get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-cook/about-you-and-me-croaker-and-his-gang-the-lady-silent-darling-about/)

[Glen Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-cook/)

> [My whole philosophy in survival is to take down brush as soon as you get in a situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-teti/my-whole-philosophy-in-survival-is-to-take-down-brush-as-soon-as-you/)

[Joe Teti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-teti/)

> [It's as if a child with a brush and too much enthusiasm has been set free with a tin of black paint inside me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-downham/it-s-as-if-a-child-with-a-brush-and-too-much-enthusiasm-has-been-set/)

[Jenny Downham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-downham/)

> [Everything we do is escapism, because we'll all be dead and everything we do is completely meaningless. Why brush your teeth? Why not be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-c-boyle/everything-we-do-is-escapism-because-we-ll-all-be-dead-and-everything/)

[T.C. Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-c-boyle/)

> [Our fans have been branded with the same brush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-atkinson/our-fans-have-been-branded-with-the-same-brush/)

[Ron Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-atkinson/)

> [Well, I do expect a lot of myself. I'm a harsh critic because I know what I'm capable of. I have hit those occasional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-stevens/well-i-do-expect-a-lot-of-myself-i-m-a-harsh-critic-because-i-know/)

[Dave Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-stevens/)

> [The body is living art. Your movement through time and space is art. A painter has brushes. You have your body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-halprin/the-body-is-living-art-your-movement-through-time-and-space-is-art-a/)

[Anna Halprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-halprin/)

> [“They are not brave, the days when we are twenty-one. They are full of little cowardices, little fears without foundation, and one is so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daphne-du-maurier/they-are-not-brave-the-days-when-we-are-twenty-one-they-are-full-of/)

[Daphne du Maurier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daphne-du-maurier/)

> [Yet, it had been Dimitri’s gentleness and thoughtfulness mixed with that deadliness that made him so wonderful. The same hands that wielded stakes with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/yet-it-had-been-dimitri-s-gentleness-and-thoughtfulness-mixed-with/)

[Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/)

> [People say I've had brushes with the law. That's not true. I've had brushes with overzealous prosecutors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-edwards/people-say-i-ve-had-brushes-with-the-law-that-s-not-true-i-ve-had/)

[Edwin Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-edwards/)

## More by Derek Landy

> [Stephanie could see the greed seep into the watery eyes of her father’s other brother, a horrible little man called Fergus, as he nodded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/stephanie-could-see-the-greed-seep-into-the-watery-eyes-of-her-father/)

[Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/)

> [“strike from the shadows, disapear into darkness”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/strike-from-the-shadows-disapear-into-darkness/)

[derek landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/)

> [“But if you can confront your inner demons—" "I did confront my inner demon. I punched him in the face and he exploded." Valkyrie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/but-if-you-can-confront-your-inner-demons-i-did-confront-my-inner/)

[Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/)

> [“What does a clue look like?" Tanith whispered. Stephanie fought the giggle down and whispered back. "I'm looking for a footprint or something." "Have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/what-does-a-clue-look-like-tanith-whispered-stephanie-fought-the/)

[Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/)

> [“He took her hand in his and knelt before her. Valkyrie looked at him. He was serious. (...)'Dude, I'm sixteen.' 'I love you.' 'That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/he-took-her-hand-in-his-and-knelt-before-her-valkyrie-looked-at-him/)

[Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/)

> [I find it rude to laugh at a man with a sword.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/i-find-it-rude-to-laugh-at-a-man-with-a-sword/)

[Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/)

> [What?" she asked again. He pointed ahead of them. "See that?" "What, the snow?" "Beyond that." "More snow?" "Stop looking at the snow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/what-she-asked-again-he-pointed-ahead-of-them-see-that-what-the-snow/)

[Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/)

> [The Baron, unfortunately, turns it all the way up to eleven." "Seriously? Because, you know, that's one more evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/the-baron-unfortunately-turns-it-all-the-way-up-to-eleven-seriously/)

[Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/)

> [“Valkyrie walked over to her. Since she had met her, all she'd wanted to do was punch her face in. But that was when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/valkyrie-walked-over-to-her-since-she-had-met-her-all-she-d-wanted-to/)

[Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/)

> [“I've always been a monster,' Scapegrace told her, 'but now, finally, my physical for reflects my inner darkness.' 'You smell terrible.' 'That's the smell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/i-ve-always-been-a-monster-scapegrace-told-her-but-now-finally-my/)

[Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/)

> [The rain battered the cottage. Valkyrie risked a look up at Skulduggery. “What is it?” she whispered. “It’s a box,” he whispered back. “What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/the-rain-battered-the-cottage-valkyrie-risked-a-look-up-at/)

[Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/)

> [There’s no such thing as winning or losing. There is won and there is lost, there is victory and defeat. There are absolutes. Everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/there-s-no-such-thing-as-winning-or-losing-there-is-won-and-there-is/)

[Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/)

> [“He liked murder. Murder and long walks had been two of his favorite things when he was younger.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/he-liked-murder-murder-and-long-walks-had-been-two-of-his-favorite/)

[Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/)

> [Of course I want to kill you," said Skulduggery. "I want to kill most people. But then where would I be? In a field…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/of-course-i-want-to-kill-you-said-skulduggery-i-want-to-kill-most/)

[Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/)

> [We don’t need a cure,” the other zombie said. “That’s right,” Scapegrace nodded. “We’re happy the way we are.” “Happy with the power,” Scapegrace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/we-don-t-need-a-cure-the-other-zombie-said-that-s-right-scapegrace/)

[Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/)

[Explore all 355 Derek Landy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/)

## More Brushes quotes

> [People say I've had brushes with the law. That's not true. I've had brushes with overzealous prosecutors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-edwards/people-say-i-ve-had-brushes-with-the-law-that-s-not-true-i-ve-had/)

[Edwin Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-edwards/)

> [Yet, it had been Dimitri’s gentleness and thoughtfulness mixed with that deadliness that made him so wonderful. The same hands that wielded stakes with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/yet-it-had-been-dimitri-s-gentleness-and-thoughtfulness-mixed-with/)

[Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/)

> [“They are not brave, the days when we are twenty-one. They are full of little cowardices, little fears without foundation, and one is so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daphne-du-maurier/they-are-not-brave-the-days-when-we-are-twenty-one-they-are-full-of/)

[Daphne du Maurier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daphne-du-maurier/)

> [The body is living art. Your movement through time and space is art. A painter has brushes. You have your body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-halprin/the-body-is-living-art-your-movement-through-time-and-space-is-art-a/)

[Anna Halprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-halprin/)

> [Well, I do expect a lot of myself. I'm a harsh critic because I know what I'm capable of. I have hit those occasional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-stevens/well-i-do-expect-a-lot-of-myself-i-m-a-harsh-critic-because-i-know/)

[Dave Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-stevens/)

> [Our fans have been branded with the same brush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-atkinson/our-fans-have-been-branded-with-the-same-brush/)

[Ron Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-atkinson/)

> [Everything we do is escapism, because we'll all be dead and everything we do is completely meaningless. Why brush your teeth? Why not be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-c-boyle/everything-we-do-is-escapism-because-we-ll-all-be-dead-and-everything/)

[T.C. Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-c-boyle/)

> [It's as if a child with a brush and too much enthusiasm has been set free with a tin of black paint inside me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-downham/it-s-as-if-a-child-with-a-brush-and-too-much-enthusiasm-has-been-set/)

[Jenny Downham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-downham/)

> [My whole philosophy in survival is to take down brush as soon as you get in a situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-teti/my-whole-philosophy-in-survival-is-to-take-down-brush-as-soon-as-you/)

[Joe Teti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-teti/)

> [Take your brush here and there like a bee in an alpine meadow. In other words, don't laboriously work on or try to finish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-genn/take-your-brush-here-and-there-like-a-bee-in-an-alpine-meadow-in/)

[Robert Genn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-genn/)

> [I grill almost all of my fish with the skin on because that gives you real protection at least on one side. It's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alton-brown/i-grill-almost-all-of-my-fish-with-the-skin-on-because-that-gives-you/)

[Alton Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alton-brown/)

> [I don't have much to compare it to because I really didn't know much about theater. After I signed on, I started reading a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taissa-farmiga/i-don-t-have-much-to-compare-it-to-because-i-really-didn-t-know-much/)

[Taissa Farmiga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taissa-farmiga/)

> [Enlightenment is like witnessing the brilliant sun for the first time in the morning. It is like seeing the beautiful flowers that grow in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/enlightenment-is-like-witnessing-the-brilliant-sun-for-the-first-time/)

[Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/)

> [O, how much simpler things would be If eyes could paint or brush could see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/o-how-much-simpler-things-would-be-if-eyes-could-paint-or-brush-could/)

[Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/)

> [The only thing I can do is wipe my arse, brush my teeth, turn up and do the best work I can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hardy/the-only-thing-i-can-do-is-wipe-my-arse-brush-my-teeth-turn-up-and-do/)

[Tom Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hardy/)

[Browse all 592 Brushes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brushes/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "That's ridiculous. The only point in having enemies is so you can defeat them, kill them, brush them aside.\" \"Or give them a chance to redeem themselves.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Derek Landy"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/that-s-ridiculous-the-only-point-in-having-enemies-is-so-you-can/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Brushes"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/that-s-ridiculous-the-only-point-in-having-enemies-is-so-you-can/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f17/derek-landy-826_brushes_that-s-ridiculous-the-only-point-in-havi_265919.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f17/derek-landy-826_brushes_that-s-ridiculous-the-only-point-in-havi_265919.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f17/derek-landy-826_brushes_that-s-ridiculous-the-only-point-in-havi_265919.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“That's ridiculous. The only point in having enemies is so you can defeat them, kill them, brush them aside.\"…” — Derek Landy",
                "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": "Derek Landy",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "That's ridiculous. The only point in...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/that-s-ridiculous-the-only-point-in-having-enemies-is-so-you-can/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/that-s-ridiculous-the-only-point-in-having-enemies-is-so-you-can/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
