Always Quote by Sydney Smith
“It resembles a pair of shears, so joined that they cannot be separated, often moving in opposite directions, yet always punishing anyone who comes between them.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Nature of Conflict, 1824
The metaphor describes two inseparable forces that move oppositely, punishing any intruder, illustrating how opposing ideas or powers can be tightly linked yet hostile.
In simple terms: Opposing forces are bound together and hostile to outsiders.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the danger of being caught between rival powers.
Themes
conflict
dualism
power dynamics
Mood
cautionary
reflective
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- political negotiations
- personal relationships
- business competition
- legal disputes
Key Concepts
interdependence
punishment
Questions to Reflect On
- What strategies can mediate between opposing forces?
- When does opposition become productive?
A Different Perspective
May ignore possibilities of reconciliation.
![“[... vastly different peoples live and work side by side but rarely come together, like the arms of an egg beater that] whirled independently and never touched, so that perhaps one arm never knew the other was there; yet they were together, turned by the same handle, and the cake was mixed by both.” quote by Elspeth Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/8d9/elspeth-huxley-26455_arms_vastly-different-peoples-live-and-work-s_2986844.jpg)
![“[T]he 47th proposition in Euclid might now be voted down with as much ease as any proposition in politics; and therefore if Lord Hawkesbury hates the abstract truths of science as much as he hates concrete truth in human affairs, now is his time for getting rid of the multiplication table, and…” quote by Sydney Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/709/sydney-smith-6523_abstract_t-he-47th-proposition-in-euclid-might-no_463551.jpg)
