--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A person's worst enemy can't wish on him…" description: "\"A person's worst enemy can't wish on him what he can think up himself.\" — Yiddish Proverb" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28c/yiddish-proverb-22446_self-sabotage_a-person-s-worst-enemy-can-t-wish-on-him_1721478.jpg" --- # A person's worst enemy can't wish on him what he can think… ![“A person's worst enemy can't wish on him what he can think up himself.” quote by Yiddish Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28c/yiddish-proverb-22446_self-sabotage_a-person-s-worst-enemy-can-t-wish-on-him_1721478.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28c/yiddish-proverb-22446_self-sabotage_a-person-s-worst-enemy-can-t-wish-on-him_1721478.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28c/yiddish-proverb-22446_self-sabotage_a-person-s-worst-enemy-can-t-wish-on-him_1721478.jpg) > “A person's worst enemy can't wish on him what he can think up himself.” [Yiddish Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yiddish-proverb/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The proverb warns that one's own thoughts can become self‑sabotage, more harmful than any external enemy. **In simple terms:** Your mind can be your worst foe. Key Takeaway Guard against self‑destructive thinking. Themes self‑sabotage mindset inner conflict Mood reflective cautionary Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - stress management - goal setting - therapy sessions Key Concepts psychology personal growth mental health Questions to Reflect On - What thoughts hold you back? - How can you reframe self‑criticism? A Different Perspective External threats are easier to confront than internal ones. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Enemy Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy-wish-1020040/) [Person Worst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/person-worst-1343313/) [Self sabotage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-sabotage/) [Wish Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish-think-607708/) [Worst enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worst-enemy/) ## Related quotes > [“My first rule of war, Cat-never give the enemy his wish”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/my-first-rule-of-war-cat-never-give-the-enemy-his-wish/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [The thing you have to be on guard against, more than anything, is self-sabotage. You have to make sure you're not your own worst…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-f-tompkins/the-thing-you-have-to-be-on-guard-against-more-than-anything-is-self/) [Paul F. Tompkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-f-tompkins/) > [A person is more than the worst thing he has ever done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-prejean/a-person-is-more-than-the-worst-thing-he-has-ever-done/) [Helen Prejean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-prejean/) > [If you like a person at their worst, you will love them at their best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-fry/if-you-like-a-person-at-their-worst-you-will-love-them-at-their-best/) [Jeffrey Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-fry/) > [I'm just a negative person, a deeply negative person. I see the worst aspects of everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crumb/i-m-just-a-negative-person-a-deeply-negative-person-i-see-the-worst/) [Robert Crumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crumb/) > [...But the problem is, people tend to assign you the role of the person you are at your worst, you know?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/but-the-problem-is-people-tend-to-assign-you-the-role-of-the-person/) [Jill Shalvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/) > [Anybody who sees me in person will see the worst cauliflower ears I think you have ever seen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-sammartino/anybody-who-sees-me-in-person-will-see-the-worst-cauliflower-ears-i/) [Bruno Sammartino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-sammartino/) > [I believe that each person is more than the worst thing they've ever done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-stevenson/i-believe-that-each-person-is-more-than-the-worst-thing-they-ve-ever/) [Bryan Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-stevenson/) > [“Anne, I don't want to live. . . . Now listen, life is lovely, but I Can't Live It. I can't even explain. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sexton/anne-i-don-t-want-to-live-now-listen-life-is-lovely-but-i-can-t-live/) [Anne Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sexton/) > [I never met Barbara Cartland. But now that I'm working on her life, I wish I had. I think there was a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-smith/i-never-met-barbara-cartland-but-now-that-i-m-working-on-her-life-i/) [Mel Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-smith/) > [I THINK FOR I JUST WISH U THINK OF ME TOO LOVE YOU AMOR:)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-shorty/i-think-for-i-just-wish-u-think-of-me-too-love-you-amor/) [LIL SHORTY](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-shorty/) > [“First wish it. Then think of yourself doing it. Then do it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milly-johnson/first-wish-it-then-think-of-yourself-doing-it-then-do-it/) [Milly Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milly-johnson/) > [In your life you meet many people. Some you never think about again. Some you wonder what happened to them. There are some that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-your-life-you-meet-many-people-some-you-never-think-about-again/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you see them hugging , don't wish it was you , think to yourself you deseve better and one day you'll find the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-see-them-hugging-don-t-wish-it-was-you-think-to-yourself-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is fleeting. And if you're ever distressed, cast your eyes to the summer sky when when the stars are strung across the velvety…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/life-is-fleeting-and-if-you-re-ever-distressed-cast-your-eyes-to-the/) [Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/) ## More by Yiddish Proverb > [A rich man has no need of character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yiddish-proverb/a-rich-man-has-no-need-of-character/) [Yiddish Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yiddish-proverb/) > [Charm is more than beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yiddish-proverb/charm-is-more-than-beauty/) [Yiddish Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yiddish-proverb/) > [Better an ounce of luck than a pound of gold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yiddish-proverb/better-an-ounce-of-luck-than-a-pound-of-gold/) [Yiddish Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yiddish-proverb/) > [With time, even a bear can learn to dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yiddish-proverb/with-time-even-a-bear-can-learn-to-dance/) [Yiddish Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yiddish-proverb/) > [Seek advice but use your own common sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yiddish-proverb/seek-advice-but-use-your-own-common-sense/) [Yiddish Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yiddish-proverb/) > [The whole world is a dream, and death the interpreter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yiddish-proverb/the-whole-world-is-a-dream-and-death-the-interpreter/) [Yiddish Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yiddish-proverb/) > [If you want your dreams to come true, don't sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yiddish-proverb/if-you-want-your-dreams-to-come-true-don-t-sleep/) [Yiddish Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yiddish-proverb/) > [Trouble is to man what rust is to iron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yiddish-proverb/trouble-is-to-man-what-rust-is-to-iron/) [Yiddish Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yiddish-proverb/) > [The girl who can't dance says the band can't play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yiddish-proverb/the-girl-who-can-t-dance-says-the-band-can-t-play/) [Yiddish Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yiddish-proverb/) > [Life is the greatest bargain - we get it for nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yiddish-proverb/life-is-the-greatest-bargain-we-get-it-for-nothing/) [Yiddish Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yiddish-proverb/) > [Don't spit into the well - you might drink from it later.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yiddish-proverb/don-t-spit-into-the-well-you-might-drink-from-it-later/) [Yiddish Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yiddish-proverb/) > [He who marries for money earns it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yiddish-proverb/he-who-marries-for-money-earns-it/) [Yiddish Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yiddish-proverb/) > [Protest long enough that you are right and you will be wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yiddish-proverb/protest-long-enough-that-you-are-right-and-you-will-be-wrong/) [Yiddish Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yiddish-proverb/) > [The wagon rests in winter, the sleigh in summer, the horse never.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yiddish-proverb/the-wagon-rests-in-winter-the-sleigh-in-summer-the-horse-never/) [Yiddish Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yiddish-proverb/) > [Money buys everything but good sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yiddish-proverb/money-buys-everything-but-good-sense/) [Yiddish Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yiddish-proverb/) [Explore all 27 Yiddish Proverb quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yiddish-proverb/) ## More Enemy quotes > [Shall there be truth between us, as two men? Not as friends, but as enemies and equals?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/shall-there-be-truth-between-us-as-two-men-not-as-friends-but-as/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [“Before you were my enemy, you were my best friend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/before-you-were-my-enemy-you-were-my-best-friend/) [Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/) > [It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy's one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/it-is-the-rule-in-war-if-our-forces-are-ten-to-the-enemy-s-one-to/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [Fear is a man's worst enemy, but love is a man's most powerful weapon against anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/fear-is-a-man-s-worst-enemy-but-love-is-a-man-s-most-powerful-weapon/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The surprise of an army is now next to an impossibility. ... Prearranged surprises are rare and difficult because in order to plan one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-henri-jomini/the-surprise-of-an-army-is-now-next-to-an-impossibility-prearranged/) [Antoine-Henri Jomini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-henri-jomini/) > [“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/) > [The concept of humanity is an especially useful ideological instrument of imperialist expansion, and in its ethical-humanitarian form it is a specific vehicle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-schmitt/the-concept-of-humanity-is-an-especially-useful-ideological/) [Carl Schmitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-schmitt/) > [Pain held no terror for him. Pain was, if not friend, then family, something he had grown up with in his crèche, learning to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/pain-held-no-terror-for-him-pain-was-if-not-friend-then-family/) [Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) > [To achieve victory we must mass our forces at the hub of all power & movement. The enemy's 'Center of Gravity'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-achieve-victory-we-must-mass-our-forces-at-the-hub-of-all-power/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [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/) > [The invention of gunpowder and the constant improvement of firearms are enough in themselves to show that the advance of civilization has done nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/the-invention-of-gunpowder-and-the-constant-improvement-of-firearms/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [Perfection is the enemy of greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/perfection-is-the-enemy-of-greatness/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [In this business, you find the enemy, then go after and destroy him. Everything else is rubbish!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-rickenbacker/in-this-business-you-find-the-enemy-then-go-after-and-destroy-him/) [Eddie Rickenbacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-rickenbacker/) > [“Enemies Teach. Friends Preach.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tapan-ghosh/enemies-teach-friends-preach/) [Tapan Ghosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tapan-ghosh/) [Browse all 7,981 Enemy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A person's worst enemy can't wish on him what he can think up himself.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Yiddish Proverb" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yiddish-proverb/a-person-s-worst-enemy-can-t-wish-on-him-what-he-can-think-up-himself/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Enemy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yiddish-proverb/a-person-s-worst-enemy-can-t-wish-on-him-what-he-can-think-up-himself/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28c/yiddish-proverb-22446_self-sabotage_a-person-s-worst-enemy-can-t-wish-on-him_1721478.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28c/yiddish-proverb-22446_self-sabotage_a-person-s-worst-enemy-can-t-wish-on-him_1721478.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28c/yiddish-proverb-22446_self-sabotage_a-person-s-worst-enemy-can-t-wish-on-him_1721478.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A person's worst enemy can't wish on him what he can think up himself.” — Yiddish Proverb", "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": "Yiddish Proverb", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yiddish-proverb/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A person's worst enemy can't wish...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yiddish-proverb/a-person-s-worst-enemy-can-t-wish-on-him-what-he-can-think-up-himself/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yiddish-proverb/a-person-s-worst-enemy-can-t-wish-on-him-what-he-can-think-up-himself/#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 } } ] } ```