--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: They persistently refused to support…" description: "\"“They persistently refused to support either armed party and believed that both sides were but the reflection of one reality, and the true enemies were..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd1/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh-689_quote_they-persistently-refused-to-support-eit_1951637.jpg" --- # They persistently refused to support either armed party… ![“They persistently refused to support either armed party and believed that both sides were but the reflection of one reality, and the true enemies were not people, but ideology, hatred, and ignorance.” quote by Thich Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd1/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh-689_quote_they-persistently-refused-to-support-eit_1951637.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd1/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh-689_quote_they-persistently-refused-to-support-eit_1951637.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd1/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh-689_quote_they-persistently-refused-to-support-eit_1951637.jpg) > ““They persistently refused to support either armed party and believed that both sides were but the reflection of one reality, and the true enemies were not people, but ideology, hatred, and ignorance.”” [Thich Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True conflict stems from ideological hatred and ignorance, not from individuals themselves. **In simple terms:** Conflict is about ideas, not people. Key Takeaway Address prejudice and misinformation. Themes conflict ideology ignorance Mood thoughtful calm Type spiritual ethical When to use this quote - Community mediation - education reform - media literacy - interfaith dialogue Key Concepts Buddhism peace studies Questions to Reflect On - What biases shape your perception of “the other”? - How can compassion reduce ideological hatred? A Different Perspective Ideological divisions can be deeply entrenched and hard to change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hatred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hatred/) ## Related quotes > [“Or why should one refrain from burning hatred, whatever its basis--race, class, or ideology? Such hatred is in fact corroding many hearts today. Atheist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandr-i-solzhenitsyn/or-why-should-one-refrain-from-burning-hatred-whatever-its-basis-race/) [Aleksandr I. Solzhenitsyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandr-i-solzhenitsyn/) > [Our most important allies in the fight against ISIL are the vast majority of Muslims who reject its apocalyptic ideology of hatred.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-graham/our-most-important-allies-in-the-fight-against-isil-are-the-vast/) [Lindsey Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-graham/) > [All the wars, all the hatred, all the ignorance in the world come out of being so invested in our opinions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/all-the-wars-all-the-hatred-all-the-ignorance-in-the-world-come-out/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [The great majority of Americans do not know much about Islam but nonetheless fear it as violent, expansionist and alien to their society. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/the-great-majority-of-americans-do-not-know-much-about-islam-but/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [When an individual, a sect, a clique or a nation hates and despises another individual, sect, clique or nation, he or they simply do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-harris/when-an-individual-a-sect-a-clique-or-a-nation-hates-and-despises/) [Paul Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-harris/) > [So when you spot violence, or bigotry, or intolerance or fear or just garden-variety misogyny, hatred or ignorance, just look it in the eye…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patton-oswalt/so-when-you-spot-violence-or-bigotry-or-intolerance-or-fear-or-just/) [Patton Oswalt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patton-oswalt/) > [The value of hatred and ignorance is found in the fact that without them we could never truly appreciate wisdom and love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-fesler/the-value-of-hatred-and-ignorance-is-found-in-the-fact-that-without/) [Wes Fesler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-fesler/) > [“What good are laws that cannot be read or understood, or a tongue that spews only hatred or ignorance? What good is the written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delores-phillips/what-good-are-laws-that-cannot-be-read-or-understood-or-a-tongue-that/) [Delores Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delores-phillips/) > [There can be no true friends without true enemies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-dibdin/there-can-be-no-true-friends-without-true-enemies/) [Michael Dibdin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-dibdin/) > [Success will win you false friends and true enemies - succeed anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/success-will-win-you-false-friends-and-true-enemies-succeed-anyway/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [We can tolerate our true enemies, but not the back stabbers and betrayers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanji-paul-arvind-2/we-can-tolerate-our-true-enemies-but-not-the-back-stabbers-and/) Sanji Paul Arvind > [If you are successful, you will win some false friends & some true enemies: Succeed anyway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/if-you-are-successful-you-will-win-some-false-friends-some-true/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [“I began to write fiction on the assumption that the true enemies of the novel were plot, character, setting and theme.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hawkes/i-began-to-write-fiction-on-the-assumption-that-the-true-enemies-of/) [John Hawkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hawkes/) > [If the Church were not true, our enemies would be bored rather than threatened, and acquiescent rather than anxious. Hell is moved only when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/if-the-church-were-not-true-our-enemies-would-be-bored-rather-than/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [When you become successful,you will get many false friends and true enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-become-successful-you-will-get-many-false-friends-and-true/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Thich Nhat Hanh > [“For example, the sound of the telephone can make us irritated and anxious. That is the sound of the telephone which comes as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/for-example-the-sound-of-the-telephone-can-make-us-irritated-and/) [Thích Nhất Hạnh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/) > [“Bhikkhus, the teaching is merely a vehicle to describe the truth. Don’t mistake it for the truth itself. A finger pointing at the moon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/bhikkhus-the-teaching-is-merely-a-vehicle-to-describe-the-truth-don-t/) [Thich Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/) > [“If we practice walking meditation, we walk just for walking, not to arrive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/if-we-practice-walking-meditation-we-walk-just-for-walking-not-to/) [Thích Nhất Hạnh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/) > [“Control the senses, practice equanimity. Live by disciplinary rules. Associate with good friends who are not lazy and live purely. Be courteous and well-mannered,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/control-the-senses-practice-equanimity-live-by-disciplinary-rules/) [Thích Nhất Hạnh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/) > [“If you are lost in a forest at night, you can follow the North Star to find your way out. You follow the North…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/if-you-are-lost-in-a-forest-at-night-you-can-follow-the-north-star-to/) [Thich Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/) > [“If you are a poet, you will clearly see a cloud floating on this sheet of paper. Thich Nhat Hanh”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/if-you-are-a-poet-you-will-clearly-see-a-cloud-floating-on-this-sheet/) [Thich Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/) > [“Happiness can be attained by letting go, including letting go of your ideas about happiness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/happiness-can-be-attained-by-letting-go-including-letting-go-of-your/) [Thich Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/) > [“We have many kinds of energies in us, including the energies of anger, violence, and craving. But compassion is also a very strong energy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/we-have-many-kinds-of-energies-in-us-including-the-energies-of-anger/) [Thích Nhất Hạnh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/) > [“Knowing how to handle suffering, you know at the same time how to produce happiness. And if you’re truly happy, we all profit from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/knowing-how-to-handle-suffering-you-know-at-the-same-time-how-to/) [Thich Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/) > [“You have to realize that happiness is not something you find at the end of the road. You have to understand that it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/you-have-to-realize-that-happiness-is-not-something-you-find-at-the/) [Thich Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/) > [“Suppose you are in the desert, and you only have one glass of muddy water. You have to transform the muddy water into clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/suppose-you-are-in-the-desert-and-you-only-have-one-glass-of-muddy/) [Thich Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/) > [“When you speak, allow the insight of our collective humanity to speak through you. When you walk, don't walk for yourself alone; walk for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/when-you-speak-allow-the-insight-of-our-collective-humanity-to-speak/) [Thích Nhất Hạnh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/) > [“Your body belongs to the earth. In modern life, people tend to think their bodies belong to them, that they can do anything they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/your-body-belongs-to-the-earth-in-modern-life-people-tend-to-think/) [Thich Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/) > [“A single wise word bringing peace to the listener is worth more than a thousand speeches of empty words.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/a-single-wise-word-bringing-peace-to-the-listener-is-worth-more-than/) [Thích Nhất Hạnh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/) > [“There is no fire like lust, no vise like hatred, no trap like delusion, and no galloping river like craving.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/there-is-no-fire-like-lust-no-vise-like-hatred-no-trap-like-delusion/) [Thích Nhất Hạnh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/) [Explore all 373 Thich Nhat Hanh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/) ## More Hatred quotes > [There has certainly been ugly, right-wing hatred targeting Barack Obama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/there-has-certainly-been-ugly-right-wing-hatred-targeting-barack-obama/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [Only those who hate the Negro see hatred in the Negro.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-marti/only-those-who-hate-the-negro-see-hatred-in-the-negro/) [Jose Marti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-marti/) > [We witness anti-Semitic attacks in the heart of Europe. We hear anti-Semitic slanders in European media. We feel anti-Semitic hatred in the continent that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayelet-shaked/we-witness-anti-semitic-attacks-in-the-heart-of-europe-we-hear-anti/) [Ayelet Shaked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayelet-shaked/) > [For war to man, like childbirth to women, is simplifying in its emotions and activities. All the real problems of life can be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/for-war-to-man-like-childbirth-to-women-is-simplifying-in-its/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [If the mind is dominated by hatred, the best part of the brain, which is used to judge right and wrong, does not function…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/if-the-mind-is-dominated-by-hatred-the-best-part-of-the-brain-which/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [Our attitude towards evil must be freed from hatred, and has itself need to be enlightened in character...Satan rejoices when he succeeds in inspiring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikolai-berdyaev/our-attitude-towards-evil-must-be-freed-from-hatred-and-has-itself/) [Nikolai Berdyaev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikolai-berdyaev/) > [The hatred of those who are near to us is the most violent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publius-cornelius-tacitus/the-hatred-of-those-who-are-near-to-us-is-the-most-violent/) [Publius Cornelius Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publius-cornelius-tacitus/) > [“Their Love Is Average, Seeks Average But There Is Genius In Their Hatred”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/their-love-is-average-seeks-average-but-there-is-genius-in-their/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [Enough for this bow & arrow. It caused me nothing but sorrow. No need for another tomorrow. In your heart, I will never be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louaiq8/enough-for-this-bow-arrow-it-caused-me-nothing-but-sorrow-no-need-for/) Louaiq8 > [Too many years of feeling degraded now hatred's the only feeling that comes~~~](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/too-many-years-of-feeling-degraded-now-hatred-s-the-only-feeling-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Benefits received are a delight to us as long as we think we can requite them; when that possibility is far exceeded, they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/benefits-received-are-a-delight-to-us-as-long-as-we-think-we-can/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [“It’s a continual revelation when you come to understand that the only thing you can expect in return for your own dignity is hatred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-mosley/it-s-a-continual-revelation-when-you-come-to-understand-that-the-only/) [Walter Mosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-mosley/) > [Hate is a lack of imagination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-greene/hate-is-a-lack-of-imagination/) [Graham Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-greene/) > [Everybody loves to talk about calmness and peace, whether in a family, national, or international context, but without inner peace how can we make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/everybody-loves-to-talk-about-calmness-and-peace-whether-in-a-family/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [The terrorists-those nineteen people, with hundreds or maybe thousands behind them-did the worst thing you can possibly imagine. But tens of millions people did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/the-terrorists-those-nineteen-people-with-hundreds-or-maybe-thousands/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) [Browse all 3,825 Hatred quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hatred/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“They persistently refused to support either armed party and believed that both sides were but the reflection of one reality, and the true enemies were not people, but ideology, hatred, and ignorance.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thich Nhat Hanh" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/they-persistently-refused-to-support-either-armed-party-and-believed/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Hatred" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/they-persistently-refused-to-support-either-armed-party-and-believed/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd1/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh-689_quote_they-persistently-refused-to-support-eit_1951637.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd1/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh-689_quote_they-persistently-refused-to-support-eit_1951637.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd1/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh-689_quote_they-persistently-refused-to-support-eit_1951637.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“They persistently refused to support either armed party and believed that both sides were but the reflection…” — Thich Nhat Hanh", "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": "Thich Nhat Hanh", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“They persistently refused to support either...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/they-persistently-refused-to-support-either-armed-party-and-believed/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/they-persistently-refused-to-support-either-armed-party-and-believed/#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 } } ] } ```