--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only 'natural enemies' are those who…" description: "\"The only 'natural enemies' are those who take one's very nature as an offence.\" — Simon May" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecb/simon-may-53033_enemies_the-only-natural-enemies-are-those-who-t_2803311.jpg" --- # The only 'natural enemies' are those who take one's very… ![“The only 'natural enemies' are those who take one's very nature as an offence.” quote by Simon May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecb/simon-may-53033_enemies_the-only-natural-enemies-are-those-who-t_2803311.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecb/simon-may-53033_enemies_the-only-natural-enemies-are-those-who-t_2803311.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecb/simon-may-53033_enemies_the-only-natural-enemies-are-those-who-t_2803311.jpg) > “The only 'natural enemies' are those who take one's very nature as an offence.” [Simon May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-may/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. It warns that those who attack a person's core identity become true adversaries. **In simple terms:** Attacking someone's nature makes you an enemy. Key Takeaway Respect others' inherent nature. Themes identity conflict respect Mood defensive reflective Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - personal relationships - workplace interactions - cultural debates - public discourse Key Concepts psychology social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How do you respond when your nature feels attacked? - When is critique constructive? A Different Perspective Not all criticism is hostile; context matters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Enemies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemies/) [Enemies Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemies-nature-3466052/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Natural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural/) [Natural enemies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural-enemies/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Nature Offence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-offence-3466053/) [Offence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/offence/) ## Related quotes > [“Crabs and medusas were my natural enemies. Crabs because I once got bitten on my bum as I had fallen asleep on a rock…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patric-juillet/crabs-and-medusas-were-my-natural-enemies-crabs-because-i-once-got/) [Patric Juillet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patric-juillet/) > [Liberty, next to religion has been the motive of good deeds and the common pretext of crime, from the sowing of the seed at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/liberty-next-to-religion-has-been-the-motive-of-good-deeds-and-the-2/) [Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/) > [I considered the British as our natural enemies, and as the only nation on earth who wished us ill from the bottom of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-considered-the-british-as-our-natural-enemies-and-as-the-only/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Trade is the natural enemy of all violent passions. 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It's pretty basic when you're brought up, like I was, to hate and fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/i-ve-always-been-politically-minded-and-against-the-status-quo-it-s/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [What binds us together is not common education, common race, common income levels, common politics, common nationality, common accents, common jobs, or anything else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-a-carson/what-binds-us-together-is-not-common-education-common-race-common/) [D. A. Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-a-carson/) > [If we want justice for minorities and cooled wars with our natural enemies, whether human or non-human, we must first come to terms with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/if-we-want-justice-for-minorities-and-cooled-wars-with-our-natural/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [Reason and free inquiry are the only effective agents against error. Give a loose to them, they will support the true religion by bringing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/reason-and-free-inquiry-are-the-only-effective-agents-against-error/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Besides, humans aren't prey. They are our natural enemies. They are to be avoided.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-leitich-smith/besides-humans-aren-t-prey-they-are-our-natural-enemies-they-are-to/) [Cynthia Leitich Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-leitich-smith/) > [Government is the natural enemy of freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garet-garrett/government-is-the-natural-enemy-of-freedom/) [Garet Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garet-garrett/) > [Trade is the natural enemy of all violent passions. Trade loves moderation, delights in compromise, and is most careful to avoid anger. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/trade-is-the-natural-enemy-of-all-violent-passions-trade-loves/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [Fathers and sons are natural enemies. Look at any species. Shark, sees his father in the water, he's not thinking, Hey dad, wassup ?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-titus/fathers-and-sons-are-natural-enemies-look-at-any-species-shark-sees/) [Christopher Titus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-titus/) > [The artist and the multitude are natural enemies. They always will be, both ways. The artist is an enemy of the multitude, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-altman/the-artist-and-the-multitude-are-natural-enemies-they-always-will-be/) [Robert Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-altman/) > [Comedians and Feminists are natural enemies. Because stereotypically speaking, feminists can't take a joke and comedians can't take criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-c-k/comedians-and-feminists-are-natural-enemies-because-stereotypically/) [Louis C. K](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-c-k/) ## More by Simon May > [Failure is life's magnifying glass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-may/failure-is-life-s-magnifying-glass/) [Simon May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-may/) > [Greed often finds more pleasure in taking from others than in giving to itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-may/greed-often-finds-more-pleasure-in-taking-from-others-than-in-giving/) [Simon May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-may/) > [“This is how all love works. Like Israel's love for God, love does not need deep knowledge of the other to be evoked and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-may/this-is-how-all-love-works-like-israel-s-love-for-god-love-does-not/) [Simon May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-may/) > [“This is the feeling that I call ‘ontological rootedness’ – ontology being that branch of philosophy that deals with the nature and experience of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-may/this-is-the-feeling-that-i-call-ontological-rootedness-ontology-being/) [Simon May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-may/) > [“Human love, now even more than then, is widely tasked with achieving what once only divine love was thought capable of: to be our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-may/human-love-now-even-more-than-then-is-widely-tasked-with-achieving/) [Simon May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-may/) > [“By imputing to human love features properly reserved for divine love, such as the unconditional and the eternal, we falsify the nature of this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-may/by-imputing-to-human-love-features-properly-reserved-for-divine-love/) [Simon May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-may/) [Explore all 7 Simon May quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-may/) ## More Enemies quotes > [“Never let your Enemies become your Advocates.” by A. K. Hasan”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-k-hasan/never-let-your-enemies-become-your-advocates-by-a-k-hasan/) [A.K. Hasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-k-hasan/) > [I don't see why we and the Chinese should have to be enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/i-don-t-see-why-we-and-the-chinese-should-have-to-be-enemies/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [“If it takes night to make day, pain to know pleasure, black to make white, then doesn't it stand to reason that the depth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-snyder/if-it-takes-night-to-make-day-pain-to-know-pleasure-black-to-make/) [Michael Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-snyder/) > [“Enemies Teach. Friends Preach.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tapan-ghosh/enemies-teach-friends-preach/) [Tapan Ghosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tapan-ghosh/) > [Your greatest weapon is your enemies mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buddha/your-greatest-weapon-is-your-enemies-mind/) [Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buddha/) > [“THE UNFORGIVEN Tell me if you've ever had to deal with these kinds of people: The kind who take and don't give. 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You have to find the redeeming quality and love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/you-should-never-hate-anyone-even-your-worst-enemies-everyone-has/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [“Anyone who is portraying Israel as a friend is a servant of Israel. I warn some sides against turning enemies into friends and friends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sayed-hassan-nasrallah/anyone-who-is-portraying-israel-as-a-friend-is-a-servant-of-israel-i/) [Sayed Hassan Nasrallah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sayed-hassan-nasrallah/) > [No accurate thinker will judge another person by that which the other person's enemies say about him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/no-accurate-thinker-will-judge-another-person-by-that-which-the-other/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Whoever will not love his enemies cannot know the Lord and the sweetness of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit teaches us to love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silouan-the-athonite/whoever-will-not-love-his-enemies-cannot-know-the-lord-and-the/) [Silouan the Athonite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silouan-the-athonite/) > [I play basketball hard-nosed and if you're not on my team, during that 48 minutes we're enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-barnes/i-play-basketball-hard-nosed-and-if-you-re-not-on-my-team-during-that/) [Matt Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-barnes/) > [“Enemies are people who's story you haven't heard, or who's face you haven't seen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-butter/enemies-are-people-who-s-story-you-haven-t-heard-or-who-s-face-you/) [Irene Butter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-butter/) > [A sweet thing, perspective - a chance to see your enemies so small.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/a-sweet-thing-perspective-a-chance-to-see-your-enemies-so-small/) [Stanislaw Jerzy Lec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/) [Browse all 1,888 Enemies quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemies/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The only 'natural enemies' are those who take one's very nature as an offence.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Simon May" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-may/the-only-natural-enemies-are-those-who-take-one-s-very-nature-as-an/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Enemies" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-may/the-only-natural-enemies-are-those-who-take-one-s-very-nature-as-an/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecb/simon-may-53033_enemies_the-only-natural-enemies-are-those-who-t_2803311.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecb/simon-may-53033_enemies_the-only-natural-enemies-are-those-who-t_2803311.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecb/simon-may-53033_enemies_the-only-natural-enemies-are-those-who-t_2803311.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The only 'natural enemies' are those who take one's very nature as an offence.” — Simon May", "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": "Simon May", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-may/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The only 'natural enemies' are those...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-may/the-only-natural-enemies-are-those-who-take-one-s-very-nature-as-an/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-may/the-only-natural-enemies-are-those-who-take-one-s-very-nature-as-an/#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 } } ] } ```