--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A man's enemies are those he should…" description: "\"A man's enemies are those he should endeavor first to make his friends.\" — Norm MacDonald" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d4/norm-macdonald-1825_endeavor_a-man-s-enemies-are-those-he-should-ende_3016510.png" --- # A man's enemies are those he should endeavor first to make… ![“A man's enemies are those he should endeavor first to make his friends.” quote by Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d4/norm-macdonald-1825_endeavor_a-man-s-enemies-are-those-he-should-ende_3016510.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d4/norm-macdonald-1825_endeavor_a-man-s-enemies-are-those-he-should-ende_3016510.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d4/norm-macdonald-1825_endeavor_a-man-s-enemies-are-those-he-should-ende_3016510.png) > “A man's enemies are those he should endeavor first to make his friends.” [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advises turning enemies into friends first. **In simple terms:** Make friends of your enemies. Key Takeaway Build bridges before conflict. Themes conflict resolution humor relationships Mood lighthearted practical Type comedic self‑help When to use this quote - team building - negotiation - personal growth Key Concepts psychology social strategy Questions to Reflect On - When is friendship feasible with an opponent? - What steps foster trust? A Different Perspective May be naive with hostile parties. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Endeavor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/endeavor/) [Enemies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemies/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friends/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) ## Related quotes > [A man who has made no enemies is probably not a very good man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/a-man-who-has-made-no-enemies-is-probably-not-a-very-good-man/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [“In our time... a man whose enemies are faceless bureaucrats almost never wins. It is our equivalent to the anger of the gods in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaim-potok/in-our-time-a-man-whose-enemies-are-faceless-bureaucrats-almost-never/) [Chaim Potok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaim-potok/) > [If a man says that it is right to give every one his due, and therefore thinks within his own mind that injury is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/if-a-man-says-that-it-is-right-to-give-every-one-his-due-and/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Am I not destroying my enemies when I make friends of them?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/am-i-not-destroying-my-enemies-when-i-make-friends-of-them/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [A man without enemies is a dishonest man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-man-without-enemies-is-a-dishonest-man/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A man with no enemies is no good as a friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-langenhoven/a-man-with-no-enemies-is-no-good-as-a-friend/) [C.J. Langenhoven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-langenhoven/) > [Who judges best of a Man, his Enemies or himself?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/who-judges-best-of-a-man-his-enemies-or-himself/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“My grandpa used to say: “A man without enemies is a man without principals.”’ ‘Wise words,’ nodded Wolf. He felt exhausted by their fleeting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-cole/my-grandpa-used-to-say-a-man-without-enemies-is-a-man-without/) [Daniel Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-cole/) > [“Jesus told His disciples, “A man’s enemies will be the members of his household.” (Matthew 10:36)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-gallagher/jesus-told-his-disciples-a-man-s-enemies-will-be-the-members-of-his/) Steve Gallagher > [Beware of the man who has no enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/beware-of-the-man-who-has-no-enemies/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [The good man has his enemies. He would not be like His Lord if he had not. If we were without enemies we might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/the-good-man-has-his-enemies-he-would-not-be-like-his-lord-if-he-had/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [Is it not hard that even those who are with us should be against us - that a man's enemies, in some degree, should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wesley/is-it-not-hard-that-even-those-who-are-with-us-should-be-against-us/) [John Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wesley/) > [It is good that a man's enemies want him dead, for it proves he has lived a life of worth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forrest-carter/it-is-good-that-a-man-s-enemies-want-him-dead-for-it-proves-he-has/) [Forrest Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forrest-carter/) > [The truly civilized man has no enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-fletcher-dole/the-truly-civilized-man-has-no-enemies/) [Charles Fletcher Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-fletcher-dole/) > [“To be incapable of taking one's enemies, one's accidents, even one's misdeeds seriously for very long—that is the sign of strong, full natures in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/to-be-incapable-of-taking-one-s-enemies-one-s-accidents-even-one-s/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) ## More by Norm MacDonald > [In estimating the adversities of life, we would seldom have much reason to complain of the evils we suffer, did we understand the dangers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/in-estimating-the-adversities-of-life-we-would-seldom-have-much/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [Chastity is oftener owing to diffidence and shame, than to fortitude of reason or virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/chastity-is-oftener-owing-to-diffidence-and-shame-than-to-fortitude/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [The first principle of solid wisdom is discretion, without it all the erudition of life is merely bagatelle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/the-first-principle-of-solid-wisdom-is-discretion-without-it-all-the/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [I'd say Jon Stewart has remained funny the entire time. Jon always makes it funny first. And he's just, he's talking about serious things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/i-d-say-jon-stewart-has-remained-funny-the-entire-time-jon-always/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [Liberty, like health, appears most precious when lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/liberty-like-health-appears-most-precious-when-lost/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [In theatres, you're kind of disconnected. Also, it's way too big for the likes of me. Unless you're Robin Williams or someone that can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/in-theatres-you-re-kind-of-disconnected-also-it-s-way-too-big-for-the/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [After months of speculation, the sitcom star Ellen DeGeneres admitted that yes, she's gay. Inspired by her courage, today, diet-guru Richard Simmons admitted that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/after-months-of-speculation-the-sitcom-star-ellen-degeneres-admitted/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [So much in L.A. is waiting. It's so irritating. That's what's good about stand-up. You can go away, and you don't have to sit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/so-much-in-l-a-is-waiting-it-s-so-irritating-that-s-what-s-good-about/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [You ever hear guys with small cocks talk about sex? Can't talk about it enough. They even got poems. They'll say, 'It's not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/you-ever-hear-guys-with-small-cocks-talk-about-sex-can-t-talk-about/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [My dad died, and my grandfather died, and my great-grandfather died. And the guy before him, I don't know. Probably died.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/my-dad-died-and-my-grandfather-died-and-my-great-grandfather-died-and/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [ Louis \[C.K.\] is great. But I don't know how many you could do. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/louis-c-k-is-great-but-i-don-t-know-how-many-you-could-do/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [I don't have any ego about it, but I find there's not a great work ethic in show business. A lot of people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/i-don-t-have-any-ego-about-it-but-i-find-there-s-not-a-great-work/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [Many people are skeptical about marriage of Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Pressley. They say, Lisa Marie is more of a sit at home…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/many-people-are-skeptical-about-marriage-of-michael-jackson-and-lisa/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [Back in the old days, a man could just get sick and die. Now they have to wage a battle. So my Uncle Bert…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/back-in-the-old-days-a-man-could-just-get-sick-and-die-now-they-have/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [The man that does not fear punishment, little regards crime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/the-man-that-does-not-fear-punishment-little-regards-crime/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) [Explore all 205 Norm MacDonald quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) ## More Endeavor quotes > [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. 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That applies in every field of human endeavor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/all-will-concede-that-in-order-to-have-good-neighbors-we-must-also-be/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [I believe in my Mormon faith, and I endeavor to live by it. 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We can, and should, engage in it to the extent we can and encourage others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-search-for-truth-is-a-cooperative-unending-endeavor-we-can-and/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [In the formation of such a government, it is not only the right, but the indispensable duty of every citizen to examine the principles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/in-the-formation-of-such-a-government-it-is-not-only-the-right-but/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [All persons ought to endeavor to follow what is right, and not what is established.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/all-persons-ought-to-endeavor-to-follow-what-is-right-and-not-what-is/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [In most fields of endeavor there are no easy jobs; there are only graceful ways of performing difficult ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-obst/in-most-fields-of-endeavor-there-are-no-easy-jobs-there-are-only/) [Lynda Obst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-obst/) > [After all, crime is only a left-handed form of human endeavor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/after-all-crime-is-only-a-left-handed-form-of-human-endeavor/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You don't have to be a spiritual seeker, you can be a businessman dealing with the revolution in computers. 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