--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is wrong to follow the advice of an…" description: "\"It is wrong to follow the advice of an adversary; nevertheless it is right to hear it, that you may do the contrary; and this is the essence of good po..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/068/saadi-2340_adversaries_it-is-wrong-to-follow-the-advice-of-an-a_291824.png" --- # It is wrong to follow the advice of an adversary… ![“It is wrong to follow the advice of an adversary; nevertheless it is right to hear it, that you may do the contrary; and this is the essence of good policy.” quote by Saadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/068/saadi-2340_adversaries_it-is-wrong-to-follow-the-advice-of-an-a_291824.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/068/saadi-2340_adversaries_it-is-wrong-to-follow-the-advice-of-an-a_291824.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/068/saadi-2340_adversaries_it-is-wrong-to-follow-the-advice-of-an-a_291824.png) > “It is wrong to follow the advice of an adversary; nevertheless it is right to hear it, that you may do the contrary; and this is the essence of good policy.” [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. Listening to opposing advice reveals its flaws and strengthens your own decisions. **In simple terms:** Hear critics to improve your choices. Key Takeaway Consider contrary views before deciding. Themes wisdom strategy critical thinking Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical strategic When to use this quote - political decision making - business strategy - personal negotiations - conflict resolution Key Concepts Socratic method adversarial analysis Questions to Reflect On - How do you verify the credibility of opposing advice? - When should you ignore dissenting opinions? A Different Perspective Counterarguments may be biased or misleading; discern intent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adversaries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversaries/) [Adversary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversary/) [Advice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice/) [Essence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/essence/) ## Related quotes > [My adversary is the world of finance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-hollande/my-adversary-is-the-world-of-finance/) [Francois Hollande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-hollande/) > [The capacity of any conqueror is more likely than not to be an illusion produced by the incapacity of his adversary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/the-capacity-of-any-conqueror-is-more-likely-than-not-to-be-an/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [It is narual for enemy to attack on the weaker side of the adversary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanakya/it-is-narual-for-enemy-to-attack-on-the-weaker-side-of-the-adversary/) [Chanakya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanakya/) > [The proud make every man their adversary by pitting their intellects, opinions, works, wealth, talents, or any other worldly measuring device against others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/the-proud-make-every-man-their-adversary-by-pitting-their-intellects/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [Know my name is lost, By treason's tooth bare-gnawn and canker-bit; Yet am I noble as the adversary I come to cope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/know-my-name-is-lost-by-treason-s-tooth-bare-gnawn-and-canker-bit-yet/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I am looking for the human who admits his flaws Who shocks the adversary By being kinder not stronger What would that be like?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-shihab-nye/i-am-looking-for-the-human-who-admits-his-flaws-who-shocks-the/) [Naomi Shihab Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-shihab-nye/) > [I am the nice adversary, the guy that's going to ask the tough questions and is not going to be happy with the quick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillermo-del-toro/i-am-the-nice-adversary-the-guy-that-s-going-to-ask-the-tough/) [Guillermo del Toro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillermo-del-toro/) > [God has not given us the spirit of fear. That comes from the adversary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/god-has-not-given-us-the-spirit-of-fear-that-comes-from-the-adversary/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [The Adversary seldom loses when you play on his playing field. It's called the home court advantage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-wright/the-adversary-seldom-loses-when-you-play-on-his-playing-field-it-s/) [Randall Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-wright/) > [Superwoman is the adversary of the women's movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/superwoman-is-the-adversary-of-the-women-s-movement/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [An exhausted man easily falls prey to the adversary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-oswald-sanders/an-exhausted-man-easily-falls-prey-to-the-adversary/) [J. Oswald Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-oswald-sanders/) > [Only way to eliminate the element of surprise is to know yourself and now your adversary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-st-pierre/only-way-to-eliminate-the-element-of-surprise-is-to-know-yourself-and/) [Georges St-Pierre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-st-pierre/) > [Historically, it is important to try to understand your adversary in order to figure out how they are thinking, what they will be doing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/historically-it-is-important-to-try-to-understand-your-adversary-in/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [You negotiate in bad faith if you do not forgive your adversary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/you-negotiate-in-bad-faith-if-you-do-not-forgive-your-adversary/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [Your greatest adversary is also your greatest teacher. Like it or not, it is the job of certain people to bring out the worst…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/your-greatest-adversary-is-also-your-greatest-teacher-like-it-or-not/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) ## 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/) > [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/) > [Virtue is in the mind, not in the appearance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saadi/virtue-is-in-the-mind-not-in-the-appearance/) [Saadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saadi/) [Explore all 159 Saadi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saadi/) ## More Adversaries quotes > [In all matters of opinion, our adversaries are insane.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/in-all-matters-of-opinion-our-adversaries-are-insane/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Inanimate objects are sometimes parties to litigation. A ship has a legal personality, a fiction found useful for maritime purposes. The corporation sole -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-douglas/inanimate-objects-are-sometimes-parties-to-litigation-a-ship-has-a/) [William O. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-o-douglas/) > [There were various aspects of Sun Tzu's approach that appealed to Ho Chi Minh: a) to learn to understand both the enemy and yourself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-duiker/there-were-various-aspects-of-sun-tzu-s-approach-that-appealed-to-ho/) [William J. Duiker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-duiker/) > [Marriage, in my view, should be a balanced stalemate between equal adversaries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/marriage-in-my-view-should-be-a-balanced-stalemate-between-equal/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If an adversary didn't target our power plants but they did target the core routers, the backbones that tie our internet connections together, entire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/if-an-adversary-didn-t-target-our-power-plants-but-they-did-target/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [It's like I'm married to the silencer, Until I file for divorce and release my ex-calibers. Do art with your arteries, place that for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pharoahe-monch/it-s-like-i-m-married-to-the-silencer-until-i-file-for-divorce-and/) [Pharoahe Monch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pharoahe-monch/) > [Educational exchange can turn nations into people, contributing as no other form of communication can to the humanizing of international relations. Man's capacity for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-william-fulbright/educational-exchange-can-turn-nations-into-people-contributing-as-no/) [J. William Fulbright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-william-fulbright/) > [Obama is hardly the first president to seek rapprochement with our adversaries and reconciliation with our enemies, of course. But his determination to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-f-hayes/obama-is-hardly-the-first-president-to-seek-rapprochement-with-our/) [Stephen F. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-f-hayes/) > [It is better to make friends than adversaries of a conquered race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-haydon/it-is-better-to-make-friends-than-adversaries-of-a-conquered-race/) [Benjamin Haydon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-haydon/) > [“The most courageous act in politics is to try to understand your opponent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/the-most-courageous-act-in-politics-is-to-try-to-understand-your/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [My adversary is the world of finance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-hollande/my-adversary-is-the-world-of-finance/) [Francois Hollande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-hollande/) > [Often GOP political strategy seems like the human wave theory of the Chinese military translated to politics. Where Beijing uses masses of soldiers to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-morris/often-gop-political-strategy-seems-like-the-human-wave-theory-of-the/) [Dick Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-morris/) > [Our ability to fall in love requires enough comfort with our masculinity to join it with someone's femininity and feel enhanced. .. . If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-pittman/our-ability-to-fall-in-love-requires-enough-comfort-with-our/) [Frank Pittman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-pittman/) > [You negotiate in bad faith if you do not forgive your adversary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/you-negotiate-in-bad-faith-if-you-do-not-forgive-your-adversary/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [We should seek after spiritual gifts. They can lead us to God. They can shield us from the power of the adversary. They can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallin-h-oaks/we-should-seek-after-spiritual-gifts-they-can-lead-us-to-god-they-can/) [Dallin H. Oaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallin-h-oaks/) [Browse all 446 Adversaries quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversaries/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is wrong to follow the advice of an adversary; nevertheless it is right to hear it, that you may do the contrary; and this is the essence of good policy.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Saadi" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saadi/it-is-wrong-to-follow-the-advice-of-an-adversary-nevertheless-it-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Adversaries" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saadi/it-is-wrong-to-follow-the-advice-of-an-adversary-nevertheless-it-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/068/saadi-2340_adversaries_it-is-wrong-to-follow-the-advice-of-an-a_291824.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/068/saadi-2340_adversaries_it-is-wrong-to-follow-the-advice-of-an-a_291824.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/068/saadi-2340_adversaries_it-is-wrong-to-follow-the-advice-of-an-a_291824.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is wrong to follow the advice of an adversary; nevertheless it is right to hear it, that you may do the…” — Saadi", "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": "Saadi", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saadi/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is wrong to follow the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saadi/it-is-wrong-to-follow-the-advice-of-an-adversary-nevertheless-it-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saadi/it-is-wrong-to-follow-the-advice-of-an-adversary-nevertheless-it-is/#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 } } ] } ```