--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Choose your enemies carefully: you'll…" description: "\"Choose your enemies carefully: you'll probably be known much better and far longer for who they were, than for anything else you ever managed to accomp..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/876/l-neil-smith-3636_accomplish_choose-your-enemies-carefully-you-ll-pro_2636564.png" --- # Choose your enemies carefully: you'll probably be known… ![“Choose your enemies carefully: you'll probably be known much better and far longer for who they were, than for anything else you ever managed to accomplish.” quote by L. Neil Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/876/l-neil-smith-3636_accomplish_choose-your-enemies-carefully-you-ll-pro_2636564.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/876/l-neil-smith-3636_accomplish_choose-your-enemies-carefully-you-ll-pro_2636564.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/876/l-neil-smith-3636_accomplish_choose-your-enemies-carefully-you-ll-pro_2636564.png) > “Choose your enemies carefully: you'll probably be known much better and far longer for who they were, than for anything else you ever managed to accomplish.” [L. Neil Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-neil-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Warns that one's reputation may be defined more by their adversaries than by personal achievements. **In simple terms:** Your enemies shape how you’re remembered more than your deeds. Key Takeaway Manage relationships and reputation wisely. Themes reputation enemies legacy achievement Mood reflective cautionary Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - political career - public speaking - brand management - historical analysis - personal branding Key Concepts social perception identity historical narrative Questions to Reflect On - How can you ensure achievements are recognized? - What strategies protect reputation against negative associations? A Different Perspective It may undervalue the impact of positive contributions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accomplish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accomplish/) [Choose Enemies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choose-enemies-349604/) [Enemies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemies/) [Enemies Carefully](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemies-carefully-2233255/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Known](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/known/) [Known Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/known-better-410379/) [Probably Known](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/probably-known-2233256/) ## Related quotes > [Choose your enemies carefully 'cause they will define you Make them interesting 'cause in some ways they will mind you They're not there in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/choose-your-enemies-carefully-cause-they-will-define-you-make-them/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [“If we are known mostly for our ability to poke holes in every human project, we will probably not be known as people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-crouch/if-we-are-known-mostly-for-our-ability-to-poke-holes-in-every-human/) [Andy Crouch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-crouch/) > [Choose your enemies wisely ...you may know them , but you don't know who is standing behind them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandy-yeazel/choose-your-enemies-wisely-you-may-know-them-but-you-don-t-know-who/) [Brandy Yeazel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandy-yeazel/) > [“We don’t choose our enemies, Robert thought. They choose us – and there is not a damn thing we can do about it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-valoppi/we-don-t-choose-our-enemies-robert-thought-they-choose-us-and-there/) [Jennifer Valoppi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-valoppi/) > [Pick your enemies carefully or you'll never make it in Los Angeles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rona-barrett/pick-your-enemies-carefully-or-you-ll-never-make-it-in-los-angeles/) [Rona Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rona-barrett/) > [“A man must pick his friends with care but his enemies more carefully still.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-dukes/a-man-must-pick-his-friends-with-care-but-his-enemies-more-carefully/) [Martin Dukes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-dukes/) > [If you choose to criticize, you choose your enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ozzy-osbourne/if-you-choose-to-criticize-you-choose-your-enemies/) [Ozzy Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ozzy-osbourne/) > [We will love our enemies, but not make alliances with them. They were placed in our path in order to test our sword, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-will-love-our-enemies-but-not-make-alliances-with-them-they-were/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“If a man is powerful, then his rival must therefore also be powerful. The other’s prestige enhances your own. So choose your enemies wisely.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/if-a-man-is-powerful-then-his-rival-must-therefore-also-be-powerful/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [A man can choose his enemies but not his supporters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-zaring-stone/a-man-can-choose-his-enemies-but-not-his-supporters/) [Grace Zaring Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-zaring-stone/) > [Only a fool lets somebody else tell him who his enemy is…never let your enemies choose your enemies for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/assata-shakur/only-a-fool-lets-somebody-else-tell-him-who-his-enemy-is-never-let/) [Assata Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/assata-shakur/) > [Only the following items should be considered to be grave faults: not respecting another's rights; allowing oneself to be paralyzed by fear; feeling guilty;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/only-the-following-items-should-be-considered-to-be-grave-faults-not/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [There are two things in life you cannot choose. The first is your enemies; the second your family. Sometimes the difference between them is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/there-are-two-things-in-life-you-cannot-choose-the-first-is-your/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [Choose your friends carefully, and even more importantly choose your enemies wisely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/choose-your-friends-carefully-and-even-more-importantly-choose-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“People don't really change they only get known better.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-coetzer/people-don-t-really-change-they-only-get-known-better/) [Johan Coetzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-coetzer/) ## More by L. Neil Smith > [Many individuals spend a considerable portion of their lifetimes in terror of one imagined catastrophe or another. The classic is that your immortal soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-neil-smith/many-individuals-spend-a-considerable-portion-of-their-lifetimes-in/) [L. Neil Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-neil-smith/) > [Great men don't 'move to the center' - great men move the center!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-neil-smith/great-men-don-t-move-to-the-center-great-men-move-the-center/) [L. Neil Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-neil-smith/) > [I suggest due process, speedy trials, and public hangings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-neil-smith/i-suggest-due-process-speedy-trials-and-public-hangings/) [L. Neil Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-neil-smith/) > [Guns cause crime like flies cause garbage!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-neil-smith/guns-cause-crime-like-flies-cause-garbage/) [L. Neil Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-neil-smith/) > [I have a recurring daymare that when the Glorious People's SWAT Teams smash their way in, most of us - by which I mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-neil-smith/i-have-a-recurring-daymare-that-when-the-glorious-people-s-swat-teams/) [L. Neil Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-neil-smith/) > [I'll remind you all, however, that for government, existence is a privilege, not a right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-neil-smith/i-ll-remind-you-all-however-that-for-government-existence-is-a/) [L. Neil Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-neil-smith/) > [I propose a Constitutional Amendment providing that, if any public official, elected or appointed, at any level of government, is caught lying to any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-neil-smith/i-propose-a-constitutional-amendment-providing-that-if-any-public/) [L. Neil Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-neil-smith/) > [Victim disarmament types are sick, sick people, who'd rather see a woman raped in an alley and strangled with her own pantyhose than see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-neil-smith/victim-disarmament-types-are-sick-sick-people-who-d-rather-see-a/) [L. Neil Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-neil-smith/) > [Money, first and foremost, is a medium of communication, conveying the information we call 'price'. Government control of the money supply is censorship, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-neil-smith/money-first-and-foremost-is-a-medium-of-communication-conveying-the/) [L. Neil Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-neil-smith/) > [A libertarian is a person who believes that no one has the right, under any circumstances, to initiate force against another human being, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-neil-smith/a-libertarian-is-a-person-who-believes-that-no-one-has-the-right/) [L. Neil Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-neil-smith/) > [“...occasionally I like carrying raw steel to remind myself of an important lesson. The blade's an extension of the hand, the agent--no pun intended--of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-neil-smith/occasionally-i-like-carrying-raw-steel-to-remind-myself-of-an/) [L. Neil Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-neil-smith/) > [Thanks to guys like Boss Tweed, famous for saying, 'I don't give a damn who does the voting, as long as I do the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-neil-smith/thanks-to-guys-like-boss-tweed-famous-for-saying-i-don-t-give-a-damn/) [L. Neil Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-neil-smith/) > [Taxes are a barbaric remnant of ancient times in which early farmers, tied to the land, no longer able to roam freely, unable to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-neil-smith/taxes-are-a-barbaric-remnant-of-ancient-times-in-which-early-farmers/) [L. Neil Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-neil-smith/) > [If conservatives really believed in individual liberty, as they endlessly claim and if they used both halves of their brains then they'd be libertarians.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-neil-smith/if-conservatives-really-believed-in-individual-liberty-as-they/) [L. Neil Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-neil-smith/) > [You cannot force me to agree with you. You can force me to act as though I agree with you but then you'll have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-neil-smith/you-cannot-force-me-to-agree-with-you-you-can-force-me-to-act-as/) [L. Neil Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-neil-smith/) [Explore all 125 L. Neil Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-neil-smith/) ## More Accomplish quotes > [Learn to see the big picture. 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Sometimes I don't accomplish anything every day, but if I don't work every day, I get depressed and get afraid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/i-work-every-day-sometimes-i-don-t-accomplish-anything-every-day-but/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) > [God has given believers the responsibility of spreading the Gospel to all the world, and we need to use all at our disposal to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-epp/god-has-given-believers-the-responsibility-of-spreading-the-gospel-to/) [Theodore Epp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-epp/) > [ \[The Community's\] crosses and trials give me confidence. But I derive my hope above all, and most especially, from our utter incapacity, for it… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-guerin/the-community-s-crosses-and-trials-give-me-confidence-but-i-derive-my/) [Theodore Guerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-guerin/) > [There's things that you want to accomplish, but to do that you have to work. That's the name of the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-schwarber/there-s-things-that-you-want-to-accomplish-but-to-do-that-you-have-to/) [Kyle Schwarber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-schwarber/) > [To accomplish much you must first lose everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/che-guevara/to-accomplish-much-you-must-first-lose-everything/) [Che Guevara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/che-guevara/) > [We have to think about the future and what it is we want to accomplish from this party.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-bernice-johnson/we-have-to-think-about-the-future-and-what-it-is-we-want-to/) [Eddie Bernice Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-bernice-johnson/) > [Everything that I have ever hoped to accomplish, she has done and done better than anyone I have ever seen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-hathaway/everything-that-i-have-ever-hoped-to-accomplish-she-has-done-and-done/) [Anne Hathaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-hathaway/) > [There's a lot that I want to accomplish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/there-s-a-lot-that-i-want-to-accomplish/) [George W. 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I hope my example helps other teens believe they can accomplish things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-sharapova/a-great-tennis-career-is-something-that-a-15-year-old-normally-doesn/) [Maria Sharapova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-sharapova/) > [Somebody once told me that if you laugh at a George Bush joke, or you send an email cartoon to your friends that makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-ramis/somebody-once-told-me-that-if-you-laugh-at-a-george-bush-joke-or-you/) [Harold Ramis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-ramis/) > [One should not withdraw from individuals and commit to the community what they can accomplish by their own enterprise and industry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-pius-xi/one-should-not-withdraw-from-individuals-and-commit-to-the-community/) [Pope Pius XI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-pius-xi/) [Browse all 2,426 Accomplish quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accomplish/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Choose your enemies carefully: you'll probably be known much better and far longer for who they were, than for anything else you ever managed to accomplish.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "L. 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