--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Your enemies can kill you, but only your…" description: "\"Your enemies can kill you, but only your friends can hurt you.\" — Marcus Tullius Cicero" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d7/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_enemy_your-enemies-can-kill-you-but-only-your_1397262.jpg" --- # Your enemies can kill you, but only your friends can hurt… ![“Your enemies can kill you, but only your friends can hurt you.” quote by Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d7/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_enemy_your-enemies-can-kill-you-but-only-your_1397262.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d7/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_enemy_your-enemies-can-kill-you-but-only-your_1397262.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d7/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_enemy_your-enemies-can-kill-you-but-only-your_1397262.jpg) > “Your enemies can kill you, but only your friends can hurt you.” [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. Friends can cause deeper emotional wounds than enemies because of trust and intimacy. **In simple terms:** Friends can hurt you more than enemies. Key Takeaway Guard emotional boundaries with close ones. Themes trust vulnerability relationships Mood reflective cautious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - personal relationships - conflict resolution - team dynamics Key Concepts psychology emotional injury Questions to Reflect On - How do you protect yourself while staying close? - Can you forgive a friend who hurt you? A Different Perspective Even trusted friends can unintentionally cause harm. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Enemies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemies/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friend/) [Friends hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friends-hurt/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) ## Related quotes > [I have to keep law and order and it means that I have to kill my enemies before they kill me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idi-amin/i-have-to-keep-law-and-order-and-it-means-that-i-have-to-kill-my/) [Idi Amin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idi-amin/) > [Revenge is never what you think it's going to be. There's no pleasure and glory, and when it's done your grief remains. Once a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-kadrey/revenge-is-never-what-you-think-it-s-going-to-be-there-s-no-pleasure/) [Richard Kadrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-kadrey/) > [Enemies will kill you with a knife in the back. Friends will kill you with kindness. Either way you're dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-kadrey/enemies-will-kill-you-with-a-knife-in-the-back-friends-will-kill-you/) [Richard Kadrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-kadrey/) > [When two people in love breakup, they cant be friends as they hurt each other. They cant be enemies as once they loved each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-two-people-in-love-breakup-they-cant-be-friends-as-they-hurt/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Suddenly they have to face each other down - you've got to kill your friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/suddenly-they-have-to-face-each-other-down-you-ve-got-to-kill-your/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“I’d kill for any one of my friends. Thankfully for the overpopulated prison system, I don’t have any friends.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-d-kill-for-any-one-of-my-friends-thankfully-for-the-overpopulated/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [Doubt is the thing that'll kill you, the only thing, and it'll kill your friends, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-leshem/doubt-is-the-thing-that-ll-kill-you-the-only-thing-and-it-ll-kill/) Ron Leshem > [“The truth is I'm in a place without a bright side or a one best thing. I'm in a place where, honest to God,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-james-duncan/the-truth-is-i-m-in-a-place-without-a-bright-side-or-a-one-best-thing/) [David James Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-james-duncan/) > [No," said Simon. "I know we're not much compared to you, but we don't kill our friends. We try to save them. If Heaven…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/no-said-simon-i-know-we-re-not-much-compared-to-you-but-we-don-t-kill/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Krishna suprises Arjuna. He says go fight, go kill. Do this because it's only play money. You can't kill your friends any more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/krishna-suprises-arjuna-he-says-go-fight-go-kill-do-this-because-it-s/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Everyone in a relationship hates those two sentances.. I think we should break up and then worst of all, can we be friends.. Dude,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-in-a-relationship-hates-those-two-sentances-i-think-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is easier with strangers, for they touch your life but for an instant. You will not disappoint them, for you owe them nothing;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gemmell/it-is-easier-with-strangers-for-they-touch-your-life-but-for-an/) [David Gemmell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gemmell/) > [Friends can hurt you, but the possibility of pain with lovers is so much greater because your expectations are so high. You don't ask…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-hawke/friends-can-hurt-you-but-the-possibility-of-pain-with-lovers-is-so/) [Ethan Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-hawke/) > [Sometimes your friends can hurt you wrose than any of your enemies could when we were together, nobody makes me feel like the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-your-friends-can-hurt-you-wrose-than-any-of-your-enemies/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Forgiveness should go hand in hand with love. In our families, as well as with our friends, there can be hurt feelings and disagreements.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/forgiveness-should-go-hand-in-hand-with-love-in-our-families-as-well/) [Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) ## 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. For in invention nature is never last, education never first;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/let-art-then-imitate-nature-find-what-she-desires-and-follow-as-she/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/gratitude-is-not-only-the-greatest-of-virtues-but-the-parent-of-all/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Things sacred should not only be touched with the hands, but unviolated in thought. \[Lat., Res sacros non modo manibus attingi, sed ne cogitatione…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/things-sacred-should-not-only-be-touched-with-the-hands-but/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Grief is not in the nature of things, but in opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/grief-is-not-in-the-nature-of-things-but-in-opinion/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Physicians, when the cause of disease is discovered, consider that the cure is discovered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/physicians-when-the-cause-of-disease-is-discovered-consider-that-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Nihil est incertius vulgo, nihil obscurius voluntate hominum, nihil fallacius ratione tota comitiorum. (Nothing is more unpredictable than the mob, nothing more obscure than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/nihil-est-incertius-vulgo-nihil-obscurius-voluntate-hominum-nihil/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [The foundations of justice are that on one shall suffer wrong; then, that the public good be promoted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-foundations-of-justice-are-that-on-one-shall-suffer-wrong-then/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [“The life of the dead is set in the memory of the living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-life-of-the-dead-is-set-in-the-memory-of-the-living/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Pardon is granted to necessity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/pardon-is-granted-to-necessity/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Friendship embraces innumerable ends; turn where you will it is ever at your side; no barrier shuts it out; it is never untimely and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/friendship-embraces-innumerable-ends-turn-where-you-will-it-is-ever/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [History is the witness of the times, the light of truth, the life of memory, the teacher of life, the messenger of antiquity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/history-is-the-witness-of-the-times-the-light-of-truth-the-life-of/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [The Jews belong to a dark and repulsive force. 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 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 > [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 > [“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 > [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 > [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": "Your enemies can kill you, but only your friends can hurt you.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Marcus Tullius Cicero" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/your-enemies-can-kill-you-but-only-your-friends-can-hurt-you/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Enemies" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/your-enemies-can-kill-you-but-only-your-friends-can-hurt-you/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d7/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_enemy_your-enemies-can-kill-you-but-only-your_1397262.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d7/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_enemy_your-enemies-can-kill-you-but-only-your_1397262.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d7/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_enemy_your-enemies-can-kill-you-but-only-your_1397262.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Your enemies can kill you, but only your friends can hurt you.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero", "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": "Marcus Tullius Cicero", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Your enemies can kill you, but...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/your-enemies-can-kill-you-but-only-your-friends-can-hurt-you/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/your-enemies-can-kill-you-but-only-your-friends-can-hurt-you/#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 } } ] } ```