--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Who is the enemy? Who is holding back…" description: "\"Who is the enemy? Who is holding back more rapid movement to the better society that is reasonable and possible with available resources?...Evil, stupi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e66/robert-k-greenleaf-19333_apathy_who-is-the-enemy-who-is-holding-back-mor_2077029.jpg" --- # Who is the enemy? Who is holding back more rapid movement… ![“Who is the enemy? Who is holding back more rapid movement to the better society that is reasonable and possible with available resources?...Evil, stupidity, apathy, the 'system' are not the enemy...The real enemy is fuzzy thinking on the part of good, intelligent, vital people...In short, the…” quote by Robert K. Greenleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e66/robert-k-greenleaf-19333_apathy_who-is-the-enemy-who-is-holding-back-mor_2077029.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e66/robert-k-greenleaf-19333_apathy_who-is-the-enemy-who-is-holding-back-mor_2077029.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e66/robert-k-greenleaf-19333_apathy_who-is-the-enemy-who-is-holding-back-mor_2077029.jpg) > “Who is the enemy? Who is holding back more rapid movement to the better society that is reasonable and possible with available resources?...Evil, stupidity, apathy, the 'system' are not the enemy...The real enemy is fuzzy thinking on the part of good, intelligent, vital people...In short, the enemy is strong natural servants who have the potential to lead but do not lead, or who choose to follow a non-servant.” [Robert K. Greenleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-k-greenleaf/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The true obstacle to progress is not external forces but the complacent, unthinking attitudes of capable individuals who fail to lead. **In simple terms:** Good people who don’t act are the real barrier. Key Takeaway Encourage critical thinking and proactive leadership. Themes leadership responsibility societal progress Mood reflective determined Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - corporate governance - community organizing - political reform - grassroots activism Key Concepts servant leadership psychology of inertia Questions to Reflect On - What assumptions keep you from leading? - How can you inspire action in capable peers? A Different Perspective Even aware individuals may lack motivation or fear risk, limiting change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Apathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apathy/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Holding back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holding-back/) [Movement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movement/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Servant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/servant/) [Stupidity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stupidity/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [“Nothing you do for them will harm the enemy, the real enemy, it will only draw in more support for them as a party.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selma-dabbagh/nothing-you-do-for-them-will-harm-the-enemy-the-real-enemy-it-will/) [Selma Dabbagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selma-dabbagh/) > [“You can never defeat an enemy in the real world that you cannot defeat in your mind!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/you-can-never-defeat-an-enemy-in-the-real-world-that-you-cannot/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“The real enemy of genius is the router in the hallway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-o-monk/the-real-enemy-of-genius-is-the-router-in-the-hallway/) A.O. Monk > [Rather a real enemy than a fake friend . rather know for sure , than be mistaken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabolous/rather-a-real-enemy-than-a-fake-friend-rather-know-for-sure-than-be/) Fabolous > [If we are to put the era of nuclear terror behind us, we must struggle against the real 'enemy.' That enemy is not nuclear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daisaku-ikeda/if-we-are-to-put-the-era-of-nuclear-terror-behind-us-we-must-struggle/) [Daisaku Ikeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daisaku-ikeda/) > [There Is No Enemy Outside Your Soul.. It's Only An Image Of What You Give To Them To Think About You. The Real Enemy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/there-is-no-enemy-outside-your-soul-it-s-only-an-image-of-what-you/) Pacifiersucker > [There hasn't been peace on earth because people can't seem to figure out that the real enemy is the people .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/there-hasn-t-been-peace-on-earth-because-people-can-t-seem-to-figure/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [It's not about the past; it's about knowing your history so that you can fight in the present. Otherwise, you don't know who the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/it-s-not-about-the-past-it-s-about-knowing-your-history-so-that-you/) [Raoul Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raoul-peck/) > [Our party must continue to strike fear in the heart of the white man, our real enemy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mugabe/our-party-must-continue-to-strike-fear-in-the-heart-of-the-white-man/) [Robert Mugabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mugabe/) > [In the book, America had already been weakened by bio terror plagues before waves of selfish violence took down the rest. But the real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brin/in-the-book-america-had-already-been-weakened-by-bio-terror-plagues/) [David Brin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brin/) > [It's about not letting the internal enemy, the real enemy, have his way because the more he does the stronger he becomes. The film's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-ritchie/it-s-about-not-letting-the-internal-enemy-the-real-enemy-have-his-way/) [Guy Ritchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-ritchie/) > [The secret to healthy conflict resolution isn't taking a 'you against me' stance. The secret is realizing it's 'us against Satan.' He's the real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysa-terkeurst/the-secret-to-healthy-conflict-resolution-isn-t-taking-a-you-against/) [Lysa TerKeurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysa-terkeurst/) > [There is no enemy outside your SOUL,the real enemy live inside you.They're anger,greed,pride,attachment and hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-no-enemy-outside-your-soul-the-real-enemy-live-inside-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't think that the real enemy of the music industry is illegal downloading; I think the real enemy of the music industry is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/i-don-t-think-that-the-real-enemy-of-the-music-industry-is-illegal/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [The real enemy is the man who tries to mold the human spirit so that it will not dare to spread its wings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-flexner/the-real-enemy-is-the-man-who-tries-to-mold-the-human-spirit-so-that/) [Abraham Flexner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-flexner/) ## More by Robert K. Greenleaf > [The only test of leadership is that somebody follows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-k-greenleaf/the-only-test-of-leadership-is-that-somebody-follows/) [Robert K. Greenleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-k-greenleaf/) > [“But perhaps the greatest threat is that we lack the mechanism of consensus, a way of making up our collective minds.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-k-greenleaf/but-perhaps-the-greatest-threat-is-that-we-lack-the-mechanism-of/) [Robert K. Greenleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-k-greenleaf/) > [The servant-leader is servant first... It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. Then conscious choice brings one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-k-greenleaf/the-servant-leader-is-servant-first-it-begins-with-the-natural/) [Robert K. Greenleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-k-greenleaf/) > [The best leaders are clear. They continually light the way, and in the process, let each person know that what they do makes a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-k-greenleaf/the-best-leaders-are-clear-they-continually-light-the-way-and-in-the/) [Robert K. Greenleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-k-greenleaf/) > [“Create Dangerously.” And, as I ponder the fusing of servant and leader, it seems a dangerous creation: dangerous for the natural servant to become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-k-greenleaf/create-dangerously-and-as-i-ponder-the-fusing-of-servant-and-leader/) [Robert K. Greenleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-k-greenleaf/) > [Behind every great achievement is a dreamer of great dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-k-greenleaf/behind-every-great-achievement-is-a-dreamer-of-great-dreams/) [Robert K. Greenleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-k-greenleaf/) > [One must not be afraid of a little silence. Some find silence awkward or oppressive. But a relaxed approach to dialogue will include the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-k-greenleaf/one-must-not-be-afraid-of-a-little-silence-some-find-silence-awkward/) [Robert K. Greenleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-k-greenleaf/) > [Not much happens without a dream. And for something great to happen, there must be a great dream. Behind every great achievement is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-k-greenleaf/not-much-happens-without-a-dream-and-for-something-great-to-happen/) [Robert K. Greenleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-k-greenleaf/) > [Moral authority is another way to define servant leadership because it represents a reciprocal choice between leader and follower. If the leader is principle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-k-greenleaf/moral-authority-is-another-way-to-define-servant-leadership-because/) [Robert K. Greenleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-k-greenleaf/) > [The work exists for the person as much as the person exists for the work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-k-greenleaf/the-work-exists-for-the-person-as-much-as-the-person-exists-for-the/) [Robert K. Greenleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-k-greenleaf/) > [Nothing much happens without a dream. For something really great to happen, it takes a really great dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-k-greenleaf/nothing-much-happens-without-a-dream-for-something-really-great-to/) [Robert K. Greenleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-k-greenleaf/) > [“The variable that marks some periods as barren and some as rich in prophetic vision is in the interest, the level of seeking, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-k-greenleaf/the-variable-that-marks-some-periods-as-barren-and-some-as-rich-in/) [Robert K. Greenleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-k-greenleaf/) > [On an important decision one rarely has 100% of the information needed for a good decision no matter how much one spends or how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-k-greenleaf/on-an-important-decision-one-rarely-has-100-of-the-information-needed/) [Robert K. Greenleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-k-greenleaf/) > [Purpose and laughter are the twins that must not separate. Each is empty without the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-k-greenleaf/purpose-and-laughter-are-the-twins-that-must-not-separate-each-is/) [Robert K. Greenleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-k-greenleaf/) > [The servant leader is servant first. It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-k-greenleaf/the-servant-leader-is-servant-first-it-begins-with-the-natural-2/) [Robert K. Greenleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-k-greenleaf/) [Explore all 33 Robert K. Greenleaf quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-k-greenleaf/) ## More Apathy quotes > [If possible, I want to hear POLITICS defined without either sympathy or apathy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/if-possible-i-want-to-hear-politics-defined-without-either-sympathy/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [One response was given by the innkeeper when Mary and Joseph wanted to find a room where the Child could be born. The innkeeper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/one-response-was-given-by-the-innkeeper-when-mary-and-joseph-wanted/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [Try to greet troubles with apathy. Hello's are never what they used to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-swellers/try-to-greet-troubles-with-apathy-hello-s-are-never-what-they-used-to/) [The Swellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-swellers/) > [Apathy can be overcome by enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-j-toynbee/apathy-can-be-overcome-by-enthusiasm/) [Arnold J. Toynbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-j-toynbee/) > [Indifference must be a crime in us, to be ranked but one degree below treachery; for deserting the commonwealth is next to betraying it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-st-john-1st-viscount-bolingbroke/indifference-must-be-a-crime-in-us-to-be-ranked-but-one-degree-below/) [Henry St John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-st-john-1st-viscount-bolingbroke/) > [Insect politics, indifferent universe. Bang your head against the wall, but apathy is worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-henley/insect-politics-indifferent-universe-bang-your-head-against-the-wall/) [Don Henley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-henley/) > [“And there's a freedom in apathy, a wild, dizzying liberation on which you can almost get drunk.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-shriver/and-there-s-a-freedom-in-apathy-a-wild-dizzying-liberation-on-which/) [Lionel Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-shriver/) > [For he who is not deaf, half a silence is enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-malfatti/for-he-who-is-not-deaf-half-a-silence-is-enough/) [Jean-Paul Malfatti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-malfatti/) > [“Just because a person is silent doesn’t mean there’s no message.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sonnenberg/just-because-a-person-is-silent-doesn-t-mean-there-s-no-message/) [Frank Sonnenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sonnenberg/) > [“If someone with a high level of authority were to ask me, "Suzy, how can we make people so incredibly stupid and apathetic, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/if-someone-with-a-high-level-of-authority-were-to-ask-me-suzy-how-can/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [“It takes more than one kick in the pants to reverse a lifetime of unplanned apathy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-neilan/it-takes-more-than-one-kick-in-the-pants-to-reverse-a-lifetime-of/) [Paul Neilan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-neilan/) > [“Use the apathy of your logic to solve your problems and then the passion of your soul to enjoy life after that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelos-michalopoulos/use-the-apathy-of-your-logic-to-solve-your-problems-and-then-the/) [Angelos Michalopoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelos-michalopoulos/) > [“The fundamental basis by which the court’s decision might be made is, in itself, imperfect and subject to contradictions. There is very little consideration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashim-shanker/the-fundamental-basis-by-which-the-court-s-decision-might-be-made-is/) [Ashim Shanker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashim-shanker/) > [“The young woman had read a good many novels, and she had seen a good many films; this education by newspaper, serial and film…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-renard/the-young-woman-had-read-a-good-many-novels-and-she-had-seen-a-good/) [Maurice Renard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-renard/) > [Mourn not the dead that in the cool earth lie... But rather mourn the apathetic throng - The cowed and the meek - Who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-chaplin/mourn-not-the-dead-that-in-the-cool-earth-lie-but-rather-mourn-the/) [Ralph Chaplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-chaplin/) [Browse all 619 Apathy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apathy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Who is the enemy? Who is holding back more rapid movement to the better society that is reasonable and possible with available resources?...Evil, stupidity, apathy, the 'system' are not the enemy...The real enemy is fuzzy thinking on the part of good, intelligent, vital people...In short, the enemy is strong natural servants who have the potential to lead but do not lead, or who choose to follow a non-servant.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert K. 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