SOME
THOUGHTS ABOUT ENEMIES
There are many types of enemies. Some are always jealous;
some occasionally mischievous, some regularly harmful; some frequently destructive;
some physically dangerous; some mentally injurious; some commercially
aggressive; some communally hateful; and some spiritually detrimental, etc.
We are also our own enemies. If we violate the
laws of nature, commit any sort of vice or sin, we destroy our health and
happiness.
One who is innocent and righteous need not be afraid of any
enemy because God is always with him.
An Italian proverb says: Have you fifty friends? --it is not
enough. Have you one enemy?---it is too much.
According to the English essayist poet and politician Joseph
Addison (1672-1719) Plutarch, the Greek Philosopher and historian,
has written an essay on the benefit which a man may receive from his enemies;
and among the good fruits of enmity, mentions this in particular, that by the approaches
which it casts upon us we see the worst side of ourselves.
On the beneficial side of enemies, the Greek comic playwright
Aristophanes (Born 445 BC) had this to say: Men of sense often learn from their
enemies.---It is from their foes, not their friends, that cities learn the
lesson of building high walls and ships of war; and this lesson saves their
children, their homes, and their properties.
An interesting thought on the subject comes from the English
clergy Caleb C. Colton (1780-1832) : If you want enemies, excel others; if friends,
let others excel you.
More
often than not, majority of enemies are dangerous in one way or the other. They
must not be trusted even if they promise to become friendly. Human nature is
not easily changeable. Even religious discourses fail to have a completely
reformative effect. It has been seen that those who repeatedly repented for their
hostile behaviour and swore many times to give up their hostile character, did
not mend themselves.
To conclude, it is
advisable to treat your enemies in a way that they abandon their hostile behaviour
for ever and become life-time friends.
********
G.R.Kanwal
10 February 2025
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