--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Highlanders make the truest friends-if…" description: "\"Highlanders make the truest friends-if only because they make the worst enemies.\" — Diana Gabaldon" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99e/diana-gabaldon-185_enemy_highlanders-make-the-truest-friends-if-o_1582323.jpg" --- # Highlanders make the truest friends-if only because they… ![“Highlanders make the truest friends-if only because they make the worst enemies.” quote by Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99e/diana-gabaldon-185_enemy_highlanders-make-the-truest-friends-if-o_1582323.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99e/diana-gabaldon-185_enemy_highlanders-make-the-truest-friends-if-o_1582323.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99e/diana-gabaldon-185_enemy_highlanders-make-the-truest-friends-if-o_1582323.jpg) > “Highlanders make the truest friends-if only because they make the worst enemies.” [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Highlanders form deep friendships but can become fierce enemies, reflecting intense loyalty and rivalry. **In simple terms:** Strong bonds can turn into fierce conflict. Key Takeaway Beware of intense loyalties turning hostile. Themes friendship loyalty rivalry Mood cautious thoughtful Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - political negotiations - team building - conflict resolution - personal relationships Key Concepts history psychology social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What makes a friendship strong? - When do loyalties become harmful? A Different Perspective Not all intense bonds become enemies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Enemies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemies/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friend/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Highlander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/highlander/) [Highlanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/highlanders/) [Highlanders Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/highlanders-make-5979949/) [Truest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truest/) [Truest Friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truest-friends-518819/) [Worst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worst/) [Worst Enemies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worst-enemies-391208/) ## Related quotes > [The truest friends are usually the ones telling you what you don't want to hear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hart/the-truest-friends-are-usually-the-ones-telling-you-what-you-don-t/) [Mark Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hart/) > [It is when we are most lost that we sometimes find our truest friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-rylant/it-is-when-we-are-most-lost-that-we-sometimes-find-our-truest-friends/) [Cynthia Rylant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-rylant/) > [Death is no fiend, he is the truest of friends. He delivers us from agony.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/death-is-no-fiend-he-is-the-truest-of-friends-he-delivers-us-from/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [The Highlanders regale themselves with whisky. They find it an excellent preservation against the winter cold. It is given with great success to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobias-smollett/the-highlanders-regale-themselves-with-whisky-they-find-it-an/) [Tobias Smollett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobias-smollett/) > [The "second sight" possessed by the Highlanders in Scotland is actually a foreknowledge of future events. I believe they possess this gift because they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-c-lichtenberg/the-second-sight-possessed-by-the-highlanders-in-scotland-is-actually/) [Georg C. Lichtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-c-lichtenberg/) > [Lord Aberdeen was quite touched when I told him I was so attached to the dear, dear Highlands and missed the fine hills so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-victoria/lord-aberdeen-was-quite-touched-when-i-told-him-i-was-so-attached-to/) [Queen Victoria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-victoria/) > [“Live with Highlanders long enough, and every damn rock and tree meant something! Perhaps”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/live-with-highlanders-long-enough-and-every-damn-rock-and-tree-meant/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“Well, from what I have heard of the Scotch Highlanders, there is little to choose between them and the red men for barbarous conduct."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/well-from-what-i-have-heard-of-the-scotch-highlanders-there-is-little/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“Jamie, who had insisted on walking most of the way to spare the horse, was a disreputable sight indeed, hose stained to the knees…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/jamie-who-had-insisted-on-walking-most-of-the-way-to-spare-the-horse/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [While the Lord might insist that vengeance was His, no male Highlander of my acquaintance had ever thought it right that the Lord should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/while-the-lord-might-insist-that-vengeance-was-his-no-male-highlander/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“A tall, straight-bodied, and by no means ill-favored young Highlander at close range is breath-taking.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/a-tall-straight-bodied-and-by-no-means-ill-favored-young-highlander/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [Alright, all right," I said. "What if I tell you a story, instead?" Highlanders loved stories, and Jamie was no exception. "Oh, aye, "…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/alright-all-right-i-said-what-if-i-tell-you-a-story-instead/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“Your truest friends are the ones who will stand by you in your darkest moments--because they're willing to brave the shadows with you--and in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-yatsonsky/your-truest-friends-are-the-ones-who-will-stand-by-you-in-your/) [Nicole Yatsonsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-yatsonsky/) > [“Could you look, sir, into my heart, you would approve to the full the sentiments which animate me. Nay, more, you would count me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bram-stoker/could-you-look-sir-into-my-heart-you-would-approve-to-the-full-the/) [Bram Stoker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bram-stoker/) > [“Horace and Morris and Dolores were friends—the greatest of friends, the truest of friends, the now-and-forever-I'm-yours sort of friends.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howe/horace-and-morris-and-dolores-were-friends-the-greatest-of-friends/) [James Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howe/) ## More by Diana Gabaldon > [Alright, all right," I said. "What if I tell you a story, instead?" Highlanders loved stories, and Jamie was no exception. "Oh, aye, "…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/alright-all-right-i-said-what-if-i-tell-you-a-story-instead/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [There were moments, of course. Those small spaces in time, too soon gone, when everything seems to stand still, and existence is balanced on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/there-were-moments-of-course-those-small-spaces-in-time-too-soon-gone/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [If it was a sin for you to choose me . . . then I would go to the Devil himself and bless him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/if-it-was-a-sin-for-you-to-choose-me-then-i-would-go-to-the-devil/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [When I turned 35, I thought, 'Mozart was dead at 36, so I set the bar: I'm going to start writing a book on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/when-i-turned-35-i-thought-mozart-was-dead-at-36-so-i-set-the-bar-i-m/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [I stagger out of bed, take the dogs outside, and then I'll get a Diet Coke and a couple of dog biscuits and go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-stagger-out-of-bed-take-the-dogs-outside-and-then-i-ll-get-a-diet/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“It was…hard. I didna call out, or let them see I was scairt, but I couldna keep my feet. Halfway through it, I fell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/it-was-hard-i-didna-call-out-or-let-them-see-i-was-scairt-but-i/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [I have all the time and space in the world when I write a book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-have-all-the-time-and-space-in-the-world-when-i-write-a-book/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [I discovered that, given the indescribable nature of what I write, the only way to sell it is to give people free samples.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-discovered-that-given-the-indescribable-nature-of-what-i-write-the/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“We are bound,you and I, and nothing on this earth shall part me from you."One large hand rose to stroke my hair. "D'ye mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/we-are-bound-you-and-i-and-nothing-on-this-earth-shall-part-me-from/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [I think characters are going to be, if not a reflection of the author, at least some refraction of some part of their personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-think-characters-are-going-to-be-if-not-a-reflection-of-the-author/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [My husband asked me once why I read so many mysteries, and part of it is just intellectual, part of it is the joy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/my-husband-asked-me-once-why-i-read-so-many-mysteries-and-part-of-it/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“My Da says you’re never drunk, so long as ye can hold on to the floor.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/my-da-says-you-re-never-drunk-so-long-as-ye-can-hold-on-to-the-floor/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [When you're an artist, you can't write with the intent of affecting anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/when-you-re-an-artist-you-can-t-write-with-the-intent-of-affecting/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“But a man is not forgotten, as long as there are two people left under the sky. One, to tell the story; the other,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/but-a-man-is-not-forgotten-as-long-as-there-are-two-people-left-under/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“I didn’t answer, occupied in dissolving the penicillin tablets in the vial of sterile water. I selected a glass barrel, fitted a needle, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-didn-t-answer-occupied-in-dissolving-the-penicillin-tablets-in-the/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) [Explore all 952 Diana Gabaldon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "Highlanders make the truest friends-if only because they make the worst enemies.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Diana Gabaldon" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/highlanders-make-the-truest-friends-if-only-because-they-make-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Enemies" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/highlanders-make-the-truest-friends-if-only-because-they-make-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99e/diana-gabaldon-185_enemy_highlanders-make-the-truest-friends-if-o_1582323.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99e/diana-gabaldon-185_enemy_highlanders-make-the-truest-friends-if-o_1582323.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99e/diana-gabaldon-185_enemy_highlanders-make-the-truest-friends-if-o_1582323.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Highlanders make the truest friends-if only because they make the worst enemies.” — Diana Gabaldon", "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": "Diana Gabaldon", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Highlanders make the truest friends-if only...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/highlanders-make-the-truest-friends-if-only-because-they-make-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/highlanders-make-the-truest-friends-if-only-because-they-make-the/#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 } } ] } ```