--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is a most miserable lot to be without…" description: "\"It is a most miserable lot to be without an enemy. [No man can be successful without being envied and hated.]\" — Publilius Syrus" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d91/publilius-syrus-594_being-successful_it-is-a-most-miserable-lot-to-be-without_2900948.png" --- # It is a most miserable lot to be without an enemy. \[No man… ![“It is a most miserable lot to be without an enemy. [No man can be successful without being envied and hated.]” quote by Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d91/publilius-syrus-594_being-successful_it-is-a-most-miserable-lot-to-be-without_2900948.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d91/publilius-syrus-594_being-successful_it-is-a-most-miserable-lot-to-be-without_2900948.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d91/publilius-syrus-594_being-successful_it-is-a-most-miserable-lot-to-be-without_2900948.png) > “It is a most miserable lot to be without an enemy. \[No man can be successful without being envied and hated.\]” [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. Feeling isolated without opposition can be demoralizing; rivalry fuels purpose and drive. **In simple terms:** Without an enemy, one may feel purposeless. Key Takeaway Seek constructive challenges. Themes purpose motivation competition Mood reflective motivational Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal growth - leadership - team building Key Concepts psychology social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can you create healthy competition? - What internal goals replace the need for an enemy? A Different Perspective Reliance on external conflict may cause unnecessary stress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-successful/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Envied](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/envied/) [Envied Hated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/envied-hated-3450274/) [Hated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hated/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Miserable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miserable/) [Miserable Lot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miserable-lot-2763507/) [Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful/) ## Related quotes > [Only those beneath me can envy or hate me. I have never been envied nor hated; I am above no one. Only those above…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/only-those-beneath-me-can-envy-or-hate-me-i-have-never-been-envied/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [Try not to pay attention to those who will try to make life miserable for you. There will be a lot of those -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-brodsky/try-not-to-pay-attention-to-those-who-will-try-to-make-life-miserable/) [Joseph Brodsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-brodsky/) > [A perfect character might be attended with the inconvenience of being envied and hated; and that a benevolent man should allow a few faults…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/a-perfect-character-might-be-attended-with-the-inconvenience-of-being/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [I used to work in jobs I hated because I needed the money to buy a guitar. 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