--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Feed your enemies with a long spoon so…" description: "\"“Feed your enemies with a long spoon so they can't bite your hand.”\" — Matshona Dhliwayo" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/585/matshona-dhliwayo-52_adversary-quotes_feed-your-enemies-with-a-long-spoon-so-t_579615.jpg" --- # Feed your enemies with a long spoon so they can't bite… ![“Feed your enemies with a long spoon so they can't bite your hand.” quote by Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/585/matshona-dhliwayo-52_adversary-quotes_feed-your-enemies-with-a-long-spoon-so-t_579615.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/585/matshona-dhliwayo-52_adversary-quotes_feed-your-enemies-with-a-long-spoon-so-t_579615.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/585/matshona-dhliwayo-52_adversary-quotes_feed-your-enemies-with-a-long-spoon-so-t_579615.jpg) > ““Feed your enemies with a long spoon so they can't bite your hand.”” [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Avoid giving opponents the means to harm you; keep distance and protect yourself. **In simple terms:** Keep enemies far enough to stay safe. Key Takeaway Maintain healthy boundaries. Themes strategy defense relationships Mood cautious pragmatic Type advice proverb When to use this quote - conflict resolution - personal safety - negotiations - team management Key Concepts Power dynamics self‑preservation Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance openness with self‑protection? - When is it wise to engage rather than distance? A Different Perspective May be too distrustful, limiting cooperation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Enemy-quotations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy-quotations/) [Enmity-quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enmity-quotes/) [Friendship quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship-quotes/) [Matshona-dhliwayo-quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matshona-dhliwayo-quotes/) [Wisdom quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom-quotes/) ## Related quotes > [“When God is on your side, He uses the plots of your enemies to advance your cause.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/when-god-is-on-your-side-he-uses-the-plots-of-your-enemies-to-advance/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [“A cunning adversary will teach you more than a brainless ally.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/a-cunning-adversary-will-teach-you-more-than-a-brainless-ally/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [“Behind you, leave your enemies. Beside you, keep your family. Around you, maintain your friends. Within you, treasure God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/behind-you-leave-your-enemies-beside-you-keep-your-family-around-you-2/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [“A snake in the grass is deadlier than a lion in a tree.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/a-snake-in-the-grass-is-deadlier-than-a-lion-in-a-tree/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [“If you try to feed a snake, it will reward you by biting you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/if-you-try-to-feed-a-snake-it-will-reward-you-by-biting-you/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [All is fair in war, and starvation is one of the weapons of war. I don't see why we should feed our enemies fat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/obafemi-awolowo/all-is-fair-in-war-and-starvation-is-one-of-the-weapons-of-war-i-don/) [Obafemi Awolowo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/obafemi-awolowo/) > [It's always better to feed your enemies than to fight with them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-robbins/it-s-always-better-to-feed-your-enemies-than-to-fight-with-them/) [John Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-robbins/) > [“Feed your friends, and their mouths will be too full to gossip, Bubbie used to say. Feed your enemies, and they’ll become your friends.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-wiggs/feed-your-friends-and-their-mouths-will-be-too-full-to-gossip-bubbie/) [Susan Wiggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-wiggs/) > [“It is better to help an enemy than to harm a friend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/it-is-better-to-help-an-enemy-than-to-harm-a-friend/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [“A rose does not answer its enemies with words, but with beauty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/a-rose-does-not-answer-its-enemies-with-words-but-with-beauty/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [“A shrewd enemy will teach you more than a foolish friend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/a-shrewd-enemy-will-teach-you-more-than-a-foolish-friend/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [“I prefer male enemies to female ones; I can survive a dog’s bite better than a scorpion’s sting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/i-prefer-male-enemies-to-female-ones-i-can-survive-a-dog-s-bite/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [“You don’t choose the music your enemies play, but you choose which songs you dance to.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/you-don-t-choose-the-music-your-enemies-play-but-you-choose-which/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [“One who loves lives a thousand years in one day; one who hates only lives one day in a thousand years.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/one-who-loves-lives-a-thousand-years-in-one-day-one-who-hates-only/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [“To avoid enemies, say nothing; to avoid critics, do nothing; to avoid haters, be nothing; but to avoid mediocrity, ignore them all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/to-avoid-enemies-say-nothing-to-avoid-critics-do-nothing-to-avoid/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) ## More by Matshona Dhliwayo > [“Intelligence says think. Understanding says ponder. Insight says perceive. Enlightenment says overcome.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/intelligence-says-think-understanding-says-ponder-insight-says/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [“Love is the heart’s best tenant; it always pays its rent on time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/love-is-the-heart-s-best-tenant-it-always-pays-its-rent-on-time/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [“Your mind has the intellect to lift the world, your heart has the wisdom to better the world, and your soul has the genius…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/your-mind-has-the-intellect-to-lift-the-world-your-heart-has-the/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [“When a wolf is hungry it befriends sheep.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/when-a-wolf-is-hungry-it-befriends-sheep/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [“If you try to measure love's power, you will run out of measuring tape.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/if-you-try-to-measure-love-s-power-you-will-run-out-of-measuring-tape/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [“Your highest thoughts hold the key to your highest rewards.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/your-highest-thoughts-hold-the-key-to-your-highest-rewards/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [“Your soul is your paintbrush, your world is your canvass, your life is your masterpiece.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/your-soul-is-your-paintbrush-your-world-is-your-canvass-your-life-is/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [“Truth sees the world as it is; hope sees the world as it could be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/truth-sees-the-world-as-it-is-hope-sees-the-world-as-it-could-be/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [“Falling in love is not the problem; hitting your head on the way down is.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/falling-in-love-is-not-the-problem-hitting-your-head-on-the-way-down/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [“Life is the school of the wise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/life-is-the-school-of-the-wise/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [“Spend time with people who enrich your mind, nourish your heart, and illuminate your soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/spend-time-with-people-who-enrich-your-mind-nourish-your-heart-and/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [“You have the world in your hands if you have the universe in your soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/you-have-the-world-in-your-hands-if-you-have-the-universe-in-your-soul/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [“A happy wife is the key to a happy home.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/a-happy-wife-is-the-key-to-a-happy-home/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [“You cannot fast-forward time, you cannot rewind it, and you cannot pause it; you can only waste or benefit from it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/you-cannot-fast-forward-time-you-cannot-rewind-it-and-you-cannot/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [“In knowledge there is strength, in understanding there is might, and in wisdom there is power.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/in-knowledge-there-is-strength-in-understanding-there-is-might-and-in/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) [Explore all 1,907 Matshona Dhliwayo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) ## More Adversary-quotes quotes > [“Within the chaos of your own existence lies a legend in the making – for the greatest adversaries we face often wear our own reflection.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-santo/within-the-chaos-of-your-own-existence-lies-a-legend-in-the-making/) [DON SANTO](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-santo/) > [“If you try to feed a snake, it will reward you by biting you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/if-you-try-to-feed-a-snake-it-will-reward-you-by-biting-you/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [“A snake in the grass is deadlier than a lion in a tree.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/a-snake-in-the-grass-is-deadlier-than-a-lion-in-a-tree/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [“Behind you, leave your enemies. Beside you, keep your family. Around you, maintain your friends. Within you, treasure God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/behind-you-leave-your-enemies-beside-you-keep-your-family-around-you-2/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [“The weakest opponent is a mannequin.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamerlan-kuzgov/the-weakest-opponent-is-a-mannequin/) [Tamerlan Kuzgov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamerlan-kuzgov/) > [“A cunning adversary will teach you more than a brainless ally.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/a-cunning-adversary-will-teach-you-more-than-a-brainless-ally/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [“When God is on your side, He uses the plots of your enemies to advance your cause.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/when-god-is-on-your-side-he-uses-the-plots-of-your-enemies-to-advance/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) Browse all 8 Adversary-quotes quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Feed your enemies with a long spoon so they can't bite your hand.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Matshona Dhliwayo" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/feed-your-enemies-with-a-long-spoon-so-they-can-t-bite-your-hand/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Adversary-quotes" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/feed-your-enemies-with-a-long-spoon-so-they-can-t-bite-your-hand/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/585/matshona-dhliwayo-52_adversary-quotes_feed-your-enemies-with-a-long-spoon-so-t_579615.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/585/matshona-dhliwayo-52_adversary-quotes_feed-your-enemies-with-a-long-spoon-so-t_579615.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/585/matshona-dhliwayo-52_adversary-quotes_feed-your-enemies-with-a-long-spoon-so-t_579615.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Feed your enemies with a long spoon so they can't bite your hand.” — Matshona Dhliwayo", "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": "Matshona Dhliwayo", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Feed your enemies with a long...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/feed-your-enemies-with-a-long-spoon-so-they-can-t-bite-your-hand/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/feed-your-enemies-with-a-long-spoon-so-they-can-t-bite-your-hand/#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 } } ] } ```