--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To devote oneself to vigilance when the…" description: "\"To devote oneself to vigilance when the enemy is an imaginary one is idle, and to congratulate oneself for looking long and well for a foe that is not ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecf/robert-silverberg-14952_enemy_to-devote-oneself-to-vigilance-when-the_1930538.jpg" --- # To devote oneself to vigilance when the enemy is an… ![“To devote oneself to vigilance when the enemy is an imaginary one is idle, and to congratulate oneself for looking long and well for a foe that is not coming is foolish and sinful. My life has been a waste.” quote by Robert Silverberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecf/robert-silverberg-14952_enemy_to-devote-oneself-to-vigilance-when-the_1930538.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecf/robert-silverberg-14952_enemy_to-devote-oneself-to-vigilance-when-the_1930538.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecf/robert-silverberg-14952_enemy_to-devote-oneself-to-vigilance-when-the_1930538.jpg) > “To devote oneself to vigilance when the enemy is an imaginary one is idle, and to congratulate oneself for looking long and well for a foe that is not coming is foolish and sinful. My life has been a waste.” [Robert Silverberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-silverberg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Being hyper-vigilant about imagined threats wastes time and moral energy, leading to regret. **In simple terms:** Worrying about imagined enemies is pointless. Key Takeaway Focus on real challenges. Themes vigilance self-awareness regret Mood cautious thoughtful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal growth - risk assessment - mental health - strategic planning Key Concepts psychology illusion morality Questions to Reflect On - What imagined foe distracts you? - How can you balance caution and action? A Different Perspective Ignoring real problems can be dangerous. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Foe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foe/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Vigilance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vigilance/) [Waste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waste/) ## Related quotes > [We must see that it is foolish, sinful and suicidal to destroy the health of nature for the sake of an economy that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/we-must-see-that-it-is-foolish-sinful-and-suicidal-to-destroy-the/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [“We all throw away perfectly wonderful lives because our foolish, sinful appetites take us places we should not go.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-curtis-higgs/we-all-throw-away-perfectly-wonderful-lives-because-our-foolish/) [Liz Curtis Higgs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-curtis-higgs/) > [One has to devote oneself to a particular pursuit. 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