--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Man is his own worst enemy. [Lat., Nihil…" description: "\"Man is his own worst enemy. [Lat., Nihil inimicius quam sibi ipse.]\" — Marcus Tullius Cicero" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/397/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_enemy_man-is-his-own-worst-enemy-lat-nihil-ini_1286593.jpg" --- # Man is his own worst enemy. \[Lat., Nihil inimicius quam… ![“Man is his own worst enemy. [Lat., Nihil inimicius quam sibi ipse.]” quote by Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/397/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_enemy_man-is-his-own-worst-enemy-lat-nihil-ini_1286593.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/397/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_enemy_man-is-his-own-worst-enemy-lat-nihil-ini_1286593.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/397/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_enemy_man-is-his-own-worst-enemy-lat-nihil-ini_1286593.jpg) > “Man is his own worst enemy. \[Lat., Nihil inimicius quam sibi ipse.\]” [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑sabotage undermines personal success and happiness. **In simple terms:** We often ruin ourselves. Key Takeaway Recognize and curb self‑destructive habits. Themes self‑sabotage psychology personal growth Mood reflective serious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - relationships - career - health - financial decisions Key Concepts cognitive bias self‑criticism Questions to Reflect On - What internal narratives hold you back? - How can you turn self‑criticism into constructive feedback? A Different Perspective Self‑criticism can be a catalyst for growth if managed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Worst enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worst-enemy/) ## Related quotes > [Man is his own worst enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/man-is-his-own-worst-enemy/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Man's worst enemies are boredom and discontent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-buck/man-s-worst-enemies-are-boredom-and-discontent/) [George W. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-buck/) > [Every man is his own worst enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-queen-of-sweden/every-man-is-his-own-worst-enemy/) [Christina, Queen of Sweden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-queen-of-sweden/) > [We should be slower to think that the man at his worst is the real man, and certain that the better we are ourselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-barrie/we-should-be-slower-to-think-that-the-man-at-his-worst-is-the-real/) [James M. Barrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-barrie/) > [Liberal Catholics are the worst enemies of the Church.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-pius-ix/liberal-catholics-are-the-worst-enemies-of-the-church/) [Pope Pius IX](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-pius-ix/) > [It is never just disagreement but always intellectual dishonesty that is the apologist's worst enemy. And its apprentice is ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/it-is-never-just-disagreement-but-always-intellectual-dishonesty-that/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [Sometimes worst enemies like a Mohammed Ali and Joe Frazier that's what makes you fight so hard. Without them they never would have achieved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-stallone/sometimes-worst-enemies-like-a-mohammed-ali-and-joe-frazier-that-s/) [Sylvester Stallone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-stallone/) > [I think sometimes your worst enemy is inside your head. All your insecurities, your ego, your fears, your expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-gerardo-mendez/i-think-sometimes-your-worst-enemy-is-inside-your-head-all-your/) [Luis Gerardo Mendez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-gerardo-mendez/) > [I control my life and I have never let success run away with me - I've taken it and ran. And the only thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaka-khan/i-control-my-life-and-i-have-never-let-success-run-away-with-me-i-ve/) [Chaka Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaka-khan/) > [I will negotiate with my worst enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-newsom/i-will-negotiate-with-my-worst-enemy/) [Gavin Newsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-newsom/) > [I'm my own worst enemy. I like to eat, and when people tell me to do something I do the opposite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-arreola/i-m-my-own-worst-enemy-i-like-to-eat-and-when-people-tell-me-to-do/) [Chris Arreola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-arreola/) > [We're our own worst enemies a lot of the time, but I still blame men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janeane-garofalo/we-re-our-own-worst-enemies-a-lot-of-the-time-but-i-still-blame-men/) [Janeane Garofalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janeane-garofalo/) > [That's your best friend and your worst enemy - your own brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-durst/that-s-your-best-friend-and-your-worst-enemy-your-own-brain/) [Fred Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-durst/) > [The tragedy of war is that it uses man's best to do man's worst.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-emerson-fosdick/the-tragedy-of-war-is-that-it-uses-man-s-best-to-do-man-s-worst/) [Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/) > [War's tragedy is that it uses man's best to do man's worst.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-emerson-fosdick/war-s-tragedy-is-that-it-uses-man-s-best-to-do-man-s-worst/) [Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/) ## More by Marcus Tullius Cicero > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This is a proof of a well-trained mind, to rejoice in what is good and to grieve at the opposite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/this-is-a-proof-of-a-well-trained-mind-to-rejoice-in-what-is-good-and/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Let art, then, imitate nature, find what she desires, and follow as she directs. 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One knows how numerous this clique is, how they stick together and what power they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-jews-belong-to-a-dark-and-repulsive-force-one-knows-how-numerous/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Nature has planted in our minds an insatiable longing to see the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/nature-has-planted-in-our-minds-an-insatiable-longing-to-see-the-truth/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) [Explore all 1,068 Marcus Tullius Cicero quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) ## More Enemy quotes > [Shall there be truth between us, as two men? 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Pain was, if not friend, then family, something he had grown up with in his crèche, learning to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/pain-held-no-terror-for-him-pain-was-if-not-friend-then-family/) [Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) > [To achieve victory we must mass our forces at the hub of all power & movement. 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