---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is easier to conquer a strong enemy…"
description: "\"“It is easier to conquer a strong enemy than to appease a wounded friend.”\" — Matshona Dhliwayo"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/258/matshona-dhliwayo-52_enemy-quotations_it-is-easier-to-conquer-a-strong-enemy-t_2570220.jpg"
---

#  It is easier to conquer a strong enemy than to appease a…

![“It is easier to conquer a strong enemy than to appease a wounded friend.” quote by Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/258/matshona-dhliwayo-52_enemy-quotations_it-is-easier-to-conquer-a-strong-enemy-t_2570220.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/258/matshona-dhliwayo-52_enemy-quotations_it-is-easier-to-conquer-a-strong-enemy-t_2570220.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/258/matshona-dhliwayo-52_enemy-quotations_it-is-easier-to-conquer-a-strong-enemy-t_2570220.jpg)

> ““It is easier to conquer a strong enemy than to appease a wounded friend.””

[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.

It is easier to defeat a powerful adversary than to heal a hurt friend, highlighting the difficulty of emotional repair.

**In simple terms:** Healing a wounded friend is harder than beating a strong enemy.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize empathy over conflict.

Themes

relationships conflict empathy

Mood

empathetic serious

Type

personal advice

When to use this quote

- friendship disputes
- team dynamics
- family disagreements

Key Concepts

emotional repair trust

Questions to Reflect On

- How can we better support wounded friends?
- What strategies ease emotional healing?

A Different Perspective

May underestimate the effort needed for reconciliation.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Appease Wounded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appease-wounded-1684852/) [Conquer Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conquer-strong-1684855/) [Enemy Appease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy-appease-1684854/) [Enemy-quotations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy-quotations/) [Enemy-quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy-quotes/) [Friend quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friend-quotes/) [Friends quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friends-quotes/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Friendship quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship-quotes/) [Matshona-dhliwayo-quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matshona-dhliwayo-quotes/) [Strong Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong-enemy-858606/) [Wisdom quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom-quotes/) [Wisdom-quotations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom-quotations/) [Wise-quotations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise-quotations/) [Wise-quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise-quotes/) [Wounded Friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wounded-friend-1684853/)

## Related quotes

> [“I would rather help the weak than conquer the strong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/i-would-rather-help-the-weak-than-conquer-the-strong/)

[Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/)

> [“as soon as the enemy is rendered harmless, he is to be treated with kindness, and to be taken care of equally with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wager-halleck/as-soon-as-the-enemy-is-rendered-harmless-he-is-to-be-treated-with/)

[Henry Wager Halleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wager-halleck/)

> [If an organ gets a "dis-ease" you want to care for it like a wounded friend, not an enemy who's turned against you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-orloff/if-an-organ-gets-a-dis-ease-you-want-to-care-for-it-like-a-wounded/)

[Judith Orloff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-orloff/)

> [“To Know others is perceptive, to know yourself is wise. To conquer others is forceful, to conquer yourself is strong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laotzi-lao-tzu/to-know-others-is-perceptive-to-know-yourself-is-wise-to-conquer/)

[Laotzi (Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laotzi-lao-tzu/)

> [“It's always easy to conquer the hungry with a piece of bread. Only the wise can conquer the strong”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/it-s-always-easy-to-conquer-the-hungry-with-a-piece-of-bread-only-the/)

[Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/)

> [When you're doing bad things, you just don't know whether you can conquer them or not. I found out how strong I could be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-mathis/when-you-re-doing-bad-things-you-just-don-t-know-whether-you-can/)

[Johnny Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-mathis/)

> [“A righteous enemy is better than a devilish friend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/a-righteous-enemy-is-better-than-a-devilish-friend/)

[Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/)

> [“A flower takes a while to grow, but can die in an instant; this is how it is with trust.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/a-flower-takes-a-while-to-grow-but-can-die-in-an-instant-this-is-how/)

[Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/)

> [“Partially trust your friends. Moderately trust your family. Seldomly trust your acquaintances. Never trust your enemies. Jealous friends betray you quickly. Envious friends will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/partially-trust-your-friends-moderately-trust-your-family-seldomly/)

[Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/)

> [“It is easier for devils to hate their friends than for angels to hate their enemies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/it-is-easier-for-devils-to-hate-their-friends-than-for-angels-to-hate/)

[Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/)

> [“Use your energy to love your friends rather than hate your enemies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/use-your-energy-to-love-your-friends-rather-than-hate-your-enemies/)

[Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/)

> [“You can trust hate from friends, but never trust love from enemies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/you-can-trust-hate-from-friends-but-never-trust-love-from-enemies/)

[Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/)

> [“When you surround yourself with clever people, you have a board of advisers that you don’t have to pay for.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/when-you-surround-yourself-with-clever-people-you-have-a-board-of/)

[Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/)

> [“Enemies stab you in the back, true friends jab you in the front.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/enemies-stab-you-in-the-back-true-friends-jab-you-in-the-front/)

[Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/)

> [“It is better to ignore your friends than to listen to your enemies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/it-is-better-to-ignore-your-friends-than-to-listen-to-your-enemies/)

[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 Enemy-quotations quotes

> [“Your worst enemy is often the person you see when you look in the mirror!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/your-worst-enemy-is-often-the-person-you-see-when-you-look-in-the/)

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [“Ignore those who resent you. Avoid those who begrudge you. Excuse those who envy you. Pity those who hate you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/ignore-those-who-resent-you-avoid-those-who-begrudge-you-excuse-those/)

[Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/)

> [“It is better to ignore your friends than to listen to your enemies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/it-is-better-to-ignore-your-friends-than-to-listen-to-your-enemies/)

[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/)

> [“The problem with 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend,' is that once the common enemy is gone, you usually end up fighting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-stafford/the-problem-with-the-enemy-of-my-enemy-is-my-friend-is-that-once-the/)

[Stewart Stafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-stafford/)

> [“If you aren't destroying your enemies, it's because you have been conquered and assimilated, you do not even have an idea of who your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/if-you-aren-t-destroying-your-enemies-it-s-because-you-have-been/)

[Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/)

> [“Time is your acquaintance, life is your friend, death is your enemy, and existence is your soulmate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/time-is-your-acquaintance-life-is-your-friend-death-is-your-enemy-and/)

[Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/)

> [“Enemies stab you in the back, true friends jab you in the front.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/enemies-stab-you-in-the-back-true-friends-jab-you-in-the-front/)

[Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/)

> [“To become stronger than your opponents, learn more than them. To become happier than your opponents, love more than them. To become greater than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/to-become-stronger-than-your-opponents-learn-more-than-them-to-become/)

[Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/)

> [“The more dangerous opponent than your enemy is your anger”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-s-jagadeesh-kumar/the-more-dangerous-opponent-than-your-enemy-is-your-anger/)

[P.S. Jagadeesh Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-s-jagadeesh-kumar/)

> [“When your old enemy came on your land, wont bring anything to you except destruction.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamaran-ihsan-salih/when-your-old-enemy-came-on-your-land-wont-bring-anything-to-you/)

[Kamaran Ihsan Salih](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamaran-ihsan-salih/)

> [“A shrewd enemy will benefit you more than a foolish friend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/a-shrewd-enemy-will-benefit-you-more-than-a-foolish-friend/)

[Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/)

> [“YOU CANNOT DEFEAT YOUR ENEMY WITHOUT FIGHTING EVEN THROUGH AHIMSA.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-s-jagadeesh-kumar/you-cannot-defeat-your-enemy-without-fighting-even-through-ahimsa/)

[P.S. Jagadeesh Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-s-jagadeesh-kumar/)

> [“Your best enemy is the right person who has willingly born to die for you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-s-jagadeesh-kumar/your-best-enemy-is-the-right-person-who-has-willingly-born-to-die-for/)

[P.S. Jagadeesh Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-s-jagadeesh-kumar/)

> [“Love is blind, but sometimes, so is hate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/love-is-blind-but-sometimes-so-is-hate/)

[Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/)

[Browse all 87 Enemy-quotations quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy-quotations/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“It is easier to conquer a strong enemy than to appease a wounded friend.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Matshona Dhliwayo"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/it-is-easier-to-conquer-a-strong-enemy-than-to-appease-a-wounded/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Enemy-quotations"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/it-is-easier-to-conquer-a-strong-enemy-than-to-appease-a-wounded/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/258/matshona-dhliwayo-52_enemy-quotations_it-is-easier-to-conquer-a-strong-enemy-t_2570220.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/258/matshona-dhliwayo-52_enemy-quotations_it-is-easier-to-conquer-a-strong-enemy-t_2570220.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/258/matshona-dhliwayo-52_enemy-quotations_it-is-easier-to-conquer-a-strong-enemy-t_2570220.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It is easier to conquer a strong enemy than to appease a wounded friend.” — 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": "“It is easier to conquer a...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/it-is-easier-to-conquer-a-strong-enemy-than-to-appease-a-wounded/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/it-is-easier-to-conquer-a-strong-enemy-than-to-appease-a-wounded/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
