--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He who wishes to injure another, will…" description: "\"He who wishes to injure another, will soon find a pretext.\" — Publilius Syrus" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/138/publilius-syrus-594_injure_he-who-wishes-to-injure-another-will-soo_901455.png" --- # He who wishes to injure another, will soon find a pretext. ![“He who wishes to injure another, will soon find a pretext.” quote by Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/138/publilius-syrus-594_injure_he-who-wishes-to-injure-another-will-soo_901455.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/138/publilius-syrus-594_injure_he-who-wishes-to-injure-another-will-soo_901455.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/138/publilius-syrus-594_injure_he-who-wishes-to-injure-another-will-soo_901455.png) > “He who wishes to injure another, will soon find a pretext.” [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People who intend harm often create excuses to justify it, leading to self‑justification cycles. **In simple terms:** Harmful intent breeds excuses. Key Takeaway Watch motives, avoid creating excuses. Themes ethics intent justification Mood reflective cautious Type moral philosophical When to use this quote - personal relationships - workplace conflicts - political rhetoric Key Concepts self‑deception moral psychology Questions to Reflect On - What excuses have you rationalized for harmful actions? - How can you recognize and curb harmful intent early? A Different Perspective May overlook systemic factors influencing behavior. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Injure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/injure/) [Injure Soon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/injure-soon-1244678/) [Pretext](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pretext/) [Soon Pretext](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soon-pretext-1244677/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) [Wishes Injure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wishes-injure-1244679/) ## Related quotes > [To spare the guilty is to injure the innocent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/to-spare-the-guilty-is-to-injure-the-innocent/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [Athletes at all ages are bigger and stronger than ever before. And they are being encouraged - sometimes even incentivized, as we recently learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naveen-jain/athletes-at-all-ages-are-bigger-and-stronger-than-ever-before-and/) [Naveen Jain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naveen-jain/) > [Know for certain that there is no power in the universe to injure us unless we first injure ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/know-for-certain-that-there-is-no-power-in-the-universe-to-injure-us/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Give assistance, and receive thanks lighter than a feather: injure a man, and his wrath will be like lead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plautus/give-assistance-and-receive-thanks-lighter-than-a-feather-injure-a/) [Plautus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plautus/) > [If you neglect to exercise self-control, you are not only likely to injure others, but you are sure to injure yourself!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/if-you-neglect-to-exercise-self-control-you-are-not-only-likely-to/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Put this restriction on your pleasures, be cautious that they injure no being that lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zimmerman/put-this-restriction-on-your-pleasures-be-cautious-that-they-injure/) [John Zimmerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zimmerman/) > [If you try to pull too much power through too soon, you will injure yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-try-to-pull-too-much-power-through-too-soon-you-will-injure/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [To injure an opponent is to injure yourself. To control aggression without inflicting injury is the Art of Peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morihei-ueshiba/to-injure-an-opponent-is-to-injure-yourself-to-control-aggression/) [Morihei Ueshiba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morihei-ueshiba/) > [When a Benefit is wrongly conferred, the author of the Benefit may often be said to injure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/when-a-benefit-is-wrongly-conferred-the-author-of-the-benefit-may/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“It is those who injure women who get the most kindness from them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/it-is-those-who-injure-women-who-get-the-most-kindness-from-them/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [Every time guns fall into the wrong hands and are used to intimidate, injure, or murder women, it erodes the rights of responsible gun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-giffords/every-time-guns-fall-into-the-wrong-hands-and-are-used-to-intimidate/) [Gabrielle Giffords](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-giffords/) > [The most powerful nation on earth should be able to pass a fair, effective immigration law that combines compassion with responsibility and does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/the-most-powerful-nation-on-earth-should-be-able-to-pass-a-fair/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [A readiness to resent injuries is a virtue only in those who are slow to injure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brinsley-sheridan/a-readiness-to-resent-injuries-is-a-virtue-only-in-those-who-are-slow/) [Richard Brinsley Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brinsley-sheridan/) > [No government can be strong and flourishing while the national character is weak and degraded. A government must flourish and decay with its subjects;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-robbins-curtis/no-government-can-be-strong-and-flourishing-while-the-national/) [Benjamin Robbins Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-robbins-curtis/) > [You don't want to be passive through motion and then try to produce force. That's very scary. That's where you can injure yourself a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryson-dechambeau/you-don-t-want-to-be-passive-through-motion-and-then-try-to-produce/) [Bryson DeChambeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryson-dechambeau/) ## More by Publilius Syrus > [Even speed, when we are anxious, seems like delay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/even-speed-when-we-are-anxious-seems-like-delay/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [The coward regards himself as cautious, the miser as thrifty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/the-coward-regards-himself-as-cautious-the-miser-as-thrifty/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [It is his nature, not his standing, that makes the good man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/it-is-his-nature-not-his-standing-that-makes-the-good-man/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [It is more tolerable to be refused than deceived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/it-is-more-tolerable-to-be-refused-than-deceived/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [Modesty once lost, never returns into favour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/modesty-once-lost-never-returns-into-favour/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [One ungrateful person does an injury to all needy people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/one-ungrateful-person-does-an-injury-to-all-needy-people/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [He has existed only, not lived, who lacks wisdom in old age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/he-has-existed-only-not-lived-who-lacks-wisdom-in-old-age/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [Any plan is bad which is incapable of modification.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/any-plan-is-bad-which-is-incapable-of-modification/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [The evil you do to others you may expect in return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/the-evil-you-do-to-others-you-may-expect-in-return/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [The power of habit is very strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/the-power-of-habit-is-very-strong/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [Take care that no one hates you justly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/take-care-that-no-one-hates-you-justly/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [Poverty wants much; but avarice, everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/poverty-wants-much-but-avarice-everything/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [He who has plenty of pepper will pepper his cabbage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/he-who-has-plenty-of-pepper-will-pepper-his-cabbage/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [Hasty conclusions lead to speedy repentance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/hasty-conclusions-lead-to-speedy-repentance/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [When reason rules, money is a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/when-reason-rules-money-is-a-blessing/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) [Explore all 455 Publilius Syrus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) ## More Injure quotes > [Athletes at all ages are bigger and stronger than ever before. And they are being encouraged - sometimes even incentivized, as we recently learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naveen-jain/athletes-at-all-ages-are-bigger-and-stronger-than-ever-before-and/) [Naveen Jain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naveen-jain/) > [No government can be strong and flourishing while the national character is weak and degraded. A government must flourish and decay with its subjects;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-robbins-curtis/no-government-can-be-strong-and-flourishing-while-the-national/) [Benjamin Robbins Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-robbins-curtis/) > [A readiness to resent injuries is a virtue only in those who are slow to injure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brinsley-sheridan/a-readiness-to-resent-injuries-is-a-virtue-only-in-those-who-are-slow/) [Richard Brinsley Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brinsley-sheridan/) > [The most powerful nation on earth should be able to pass a fair, effective immigration law that combines compassion with responsibility and does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/the-most-powerful-nation-on-earth-should-be-able-to-pass-a-fair/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [To spare the guilty is to injure the innocent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/to-spare-the-guilty-is-to-injure-the-innocent/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [Every time guns fall into the wrong hands and are used to intimidate, injure, or murder women, it erodes the rights of responsible gun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-giffords/every-time-guns-fall-into-the-wrong-hands-and-are-used-to-intimidate/) [Gabrielle Giffords](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-giffords/) > [“It is those who injure women who get the most kindness from them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/it-is-those-who-injure-women-who-get-the-most-kindness-from-them/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [When a Benefit is wrongly conferred, the author of the Benefit may often be said to injure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/when-a-benefit-is-wrongly-conferred-the-author-of-the-benefit-may/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [To injure an opponent is to injure yourself. To control aggression without inflicting injury is the Art of Peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morihei-ueshiba/to-injure-an-opponent-is-to-injure-yourself-to-control-aggression/) [Morihei Ueshiba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morihei-ueshiba/) > [If you try to pull too much power through too soon, you will injure yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-try-to-pull-too-much-power-through-too-soon-you-will-injure/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Put this restriction on your pleasures, be cautious that they injure no being that lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zimmerman/put-this-restriction-on-your-pleasures-be-cautious-that-they-injure/) [John Zimmerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zimmerman/) > [If you neglect to exercise self-control, you are not only likely to injure others, but you are sure to injure yourself!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/if-you-neglect-to-exercise-self-control-you-are-not-only-likely-to/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Give assistance, and receive thanks lighter than a feather: injure a man, and his wrath will be like lead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plautus/give-assistance-and-receive-thanks-lighter-than-a-feather-injure-a/) [Plautus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plautus/) > [Know for certain that there is no power in the universe to injure us unless we first injure ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/know-for-certain-that-there-is-no-power-in-the-universe-to-injure-us/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [You don't want to be passive through motion and then try to produce force. That's very scary. That's where you can injure yourself a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryson-dechambeau/you-don-t-want-to-be-passive-through-motion-and-then-try-to-produce/) [Bryson DeChambeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryson-dechambeau/) [Browse all 47 Injure quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/injure/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "He who wishes to injure another, will soon find a pretext.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Publilius Syrus" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/he-who-wishes-to-injure-another-will-soon-find-a-pretext/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Injure" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/he-who-wishes-to-injure-another-will-soon-find-a-pretext/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/138/publilius-syrus-594_injure_he-who-wishes-to-injure-another-will-soo_901455.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/138/publilius-syrus-594_injure_he-who-wishes-to-injure-another-will-soo_901455.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/138/publilius-syrus-594_injure_he-who-wishes-to-injure-another-will-soo_901455.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“He who wishes to injure another, will soon find a pretext.” — Publilius Syrus", "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": "Publilius Syrus", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "He who wishes to injure another,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/he-who-wishes-to-injure-another-will-soon-find-a-pretext/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/he-who-wishes-to-injure-another-will-soon-find-a-pretext/#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 } } ] } ```