American flag Quote by Leila Aboulela
““This is the enemy, what is irreversible, what has already reached the farthest of places. There is no going back. They can bomb bus-loads of tourists, burn the American flag, but they are not shooting the enemy. It is already with them, inside them, what makes them resentful, defensive, what makes them no longer confident of their vision of the world.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Translator by Leila Aboulela, 1999
The enemy is internal, rooted in resentment and defensiveness, making conflict inevitable and irreversible.
In simple terms: Conflict often stems from inner feelings, not external actions.
Key Takeaway
Address internal grievances to resolve conflict.
Themes
psychology
conflict
identity
Mood
reflective
somber
Type
philosophical
analytical
When to use this quote
- political discourse
- personal relationships
- social movements
Key Concepts
internalized trauma
nationalism
defensiveness
Questions to Reflect On
- What internal fears fuel external hostility?
- How can societies heal internal resentment?
A Different Perspective
Ignoring internal causes may perpetuate external aggression.
![“It wasn't [Barack] Obama per se; it was the feeling on the ground; it was seeing an old black woman in a wheelchair being wheeled by her son waving a big American flag, and then seeing a guy with his baby in his arms saying, "I didn't want her to miss tonight! I wanted to be able to tell her!" And…” quote by Bill Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/806/bill-ayers-1848_able_it-wasn-t-barack-obama-per-se-it-was-the_20409.jpg)
