--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is better to break off a thousand…" description: "\"It is better to break off a thousand friendships, than to endure the sight of a single enemy.\" — Saadi" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/672/saadi-2340_break_it-is-better-to-break-off-a-thousand-fri_1066971.png" --- # It is better to break off a thousand friendships, than to… ![“It is better to break off a thousand friendships, than to endure the sight of a single enemy.” quote by Saadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/672/saadi-2340_break_it-is-better-to-break-off-a-thousand-fri_1066971.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/672/saadi-2340_break_it-is-better-to-break-off-a-thousand-fri_1066971.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/672/saadi-2340_break_it-is-better-to-break-off-a-thousand-fri_1066971.png) > “It is better to break off a thousand friendships, than to endure the sight of a single enemy.” [Saadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saadi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. It is wiser to end many friendships than to live with a single enemy. **In simple terms:** Better to lose many friends than keep one foe. Key Takeaway Choose peace over grudges. Themes friendship conflict wisdom Mood thoughtful cautious Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - personal relationships - community building - conflict mediation Key Concepts social harmony personal sacrifice enemy avoidance Questions to Reflect On - What are the costs of cutting ties? - How can you transform an enemy into a friend? A Different Perspective Ending friendships may cause isolation and loss of support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Break](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/break/) [Break off](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/break-off/) [Break Thousand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/break-thousand-1636628/) [Endure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/endure/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friend/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Friendships Endure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendships-endure-2637158/) [Sight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sight/) [Single Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/single-enemy-1937245/) [Thousand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thousand/) [Thousand Friendships](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thousand-friendships-2637156/) ## Related quotes > [What's cool about baseball is you don't have to see someone for years, but when you see them, you just hustle up and give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/what-s-cool-about-baseball-is-you-don-t-have-to-see-someone-for-years/) [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) > [BOAT = Break Out Another Thousand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-blackwell/boat-break-out-another-thousand/) [Alex Blackwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-blackwell/) > [Break my heart. Break it a thousand times if you like. It was only ever yours to break anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiera-cass/break-my-heart-break-it-a-thousand-times-if-you-like-it-was-only-ever/) [Kiera Cass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiera-cass/) > [Better to have one thousand enemies outside the house than to have one single enemy inside it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-bassam/better-to-have-one-thousand-enemies-outside-the-house-than-to-have/) [Ali Bassam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-bassam/) > [“In case of doubt, do not be content with a single enemy, take two.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-kristian-goldmund-aumann/in-case-of-doubt-do-not-be-content-with-a-single-enemy-take-two/) [sir kristian goldmund aumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sir-kristian-goldmund-aumann/) > [The State is, and always has been, the great single enemy of the human race, its liberty, happiness, and progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-rothbard/the-state-is-and-always-has-been-the-great-single-enemy-of-the-human/) [Murray Rothbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-rothbard/) > [Once you overcome the hatred within your mind, you will discover that in the world outside, there is no longer any such thing as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dilgo-khyentse-rinpoche/once-you-overcome-the-hatred-within-your-mind-you-will-discover-that/) [Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dilgo-khyentse-rinpoche/) > [The efficiency of a truly national leader consists primarily in preventing the division of the attention of a people, and always in concentrating it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/the-efficiency-of-a-truly-national-leader-consists-primarily-in/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [One of the problems of other MMOs combat is that you often have scenarios where you have multiple heroes beating on a single enemy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ohlen/one-of-the-problems-of-other-mmos-combat-is-that-you-often-have/) [James Ohlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ohlen/) > [Believe me, a thousand friends suffice thee not; In a single enemy thou hast more than enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/believe-me-a-thousand-friends-suffice-thee-not-in-a-single-enemy-thou/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [I think the greatest single enemy is the misuse of information, the perversion of truth in the hands of terribly skillful people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/i-think-the-greatest-single-enemy-is-the-misuse-of-information-the/) [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [You have to have short fingernails or they'd just break off, and you can't wear red polish - it looks like your fingers are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-smart/you-have-to-have-short-fingernails-or-they-d-just-break-off-and-you/) [Elizabeth Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-smart/) > [Other times I say: I would very much like to try to do something with this music, but after playing for a few minutes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-garbarek/other-times-i-say-i-would-very-much-like-to-try-to-do-something-with/) [Jan Garbarek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-garbarek/) > [Until my legs break off or I get paralyzed, I can play this way. It helps me be me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/metta-world-peace/until-my-legs-break-off-or-i-get-paralyzed-i-can-play-this-way-it/) [Metta World Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/metta-world-peace/) > [If you strike upon a thought that baffles you, break off from that entanglement and try another, so shall your wits be fresh to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristophanes/if-you-strike-upon-a-thought-that-baffles-you-break-off-from-that/) [Aristophanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristophanes/) ## More by Saadi > [Human beings are members of a whole, In creation of one essence and soul. If one member is afflicted with pain, Other members uneasy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saadi/human-beings-are-members-of-a-whole-in-creation-of-one-essence-and/) [Saadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saadi/) > [If thou art of elephant-strength or of lion-claw, still peace is, in my opinion, better than strife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saadi/if-thou-art-of-elephant-strength-or-of-lion-claw-still-peace-is-in-my/) [Saadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saadi/) > [Astride a horse I am not, nor camel-like carry a load, Subjects I have none, nor follow any sultan's code; I worry not for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saadi/astride-a-horse-i-am-not-nor-camel-like-carry-a-load-subjects-i-have/) [Saadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saadi/) > [Whatever is produced in haste goes hastily to waste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saadi/whatever-is-produced-in-haste-goes-hastily-to-waste/) [Saadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saadi/) > [The rose and thorn, the treasure and dragon, joy and sorrow, all mingle into one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saadi/the-rose-and-thorn-the-treasure-and-dragon-joy-and-sorrow-all-mingle/) [Saadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saadi/) > [When the ruler is obedient to God, God is his protector and friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saadi/when-the-ruler-is-obedient-to-god-god-is-his-protector-and-friend/) [Saadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saadi/) > [Riches are for the comfort of life, and not life for the accumulation of riches. I asked a holy wise man, "Who is fortunate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saadi/riches-are-for-the-comfort-of-life-and-not-life-for-the-accumulation/) [Saadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saadi/) > [Where the hand of tyranny is long we do not see the lips of men open with laughter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saadi/where-the-hand-of-tyranny-is-long-we-do-not-see-the-lips-of-men-open/) [Saadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saadi/) > [All human beings are limbs of the same body. God created them from the same essence. If one part of the body suffers pain,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saadi/all-human-beings-are-limbs-of-the-same-body-god-created-them-from-the/) [Saadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saadi/) > [Roam abroad in the world, and take thy fill of its enjoyments before the day shall come when thou must quit it for good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saadi/roam-abroad-in-the-world-and-take-thy-fill-of-its-enjoyments-before/) [Saadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saadi/) > [It is wrong to follow the advice of an adversary; nevertheless it is right to hear it, that you may do the contrary; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saadi/it-is-wrong-to-follow-the-advice-of-an-adversary-nevertheless-it-is/) [Saadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saadi/) > [A man is insensible to the relish of prosperity 'til he has tasted adversity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saadi/a-man-is-insensible-to-the-relish-of-prosperity-til-he-has-tasted/) [Saadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saadi/) > [If thou art wise, incline to truth; for truth, not the semblance, remains in its place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saadi/if-thou-art-wise-incline-to-truth-for-truth-not-the-semblance-remains/) [Saadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saadi/) > [Patience accomplishes its object, while hurry speeds to its ruin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saadi/patience-accomplishes-its-object-while-hurry-speeds-to-its-ruin/) [Saadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saadi/) > [He who, when he hath the power, doeth not good, when he loses the means will suffer distress. There is not a more unfortunate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saadi/he-who-when-he-hath-the-power-doeth-not-good-when-he-loses-the-means/) [Saadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saadi/) [Explore all 159 Saadi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saadi/) ## More Break quotes > [I made, like, five movies while I was in college. I think they just weren't memorable movies. 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No one can break your heart except you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/he-didn-t-break-my-heart-no-one-can-break-your-heart-except-you/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [“She couldn't break the orbit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-schwab/she-couldn-t-break-the-orbit/) [Victoria Schwab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-schwab/) > [Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding. Even as the stone of the fruit must break, that its heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/your-pain-is-the-breaking-of-the-shell-that-encloses-your/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [Must I go bound while you go free Must I love a manwho doesn't love me Must I be born with so little art…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/must-i-go-bound-while-you-go-free-must-i-love-a-manwho-doesn-t-love/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I hadn't worked for a year when I had my Prison Break audition and it was the easiest audition I've ever had. I got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wentworth-miller/i-hadn-t-worked-for-a-year-when-i-had-my-prison-break-audition-and-it/) [Wentworth Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wentworth-miller/) > [If you strike upon a thought that baffles you, break off from that entanglement and try another, so shall your wits be fresh to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristophanes/if-you-strike-upon-a-thought-that-baffles-you-break-off-from-that/) [Aristophanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristophanes/) > [“A hole ain’t nothing either, but you can still break your neck in it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-donati/a-hole-ain-t-nothing-either-but-you-can-still-break-your-neck-in-it/) [Sara Donati](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-donati/) > [“I break things, a lot of things, but I don’t want one of them to be you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/i-break-things-a-lot-of-things-but-i-don-t-want-one-of-them-to-be-you/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [Motor racing's less of a sport these days than a commercial break doing 150 mph.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-dunne/motor-racing-s-less-of-a-sport-these-days-than-a-commercial-break/) [Peter Dunne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-dunne/) > [Much like teaching art to young art students age 10 to 15 or so on, you have to break it down into bite-sized pieces,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kehinde-wiley/much-like-teaching-art-to-young-art-students-age-10-to-15-or-so-on/) [Kehinde Wiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kehinde-wiley/) > [The purpose is to be in gratitude forever. 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