"Fortunate the man who, at the right moment meets the right friend; fortunate also the man who at the right moment meets the right enemy. I do not approve the extermination of the enemy; the policy of exterminating or, as it is barbarously said, liquidating enemies, is one of the most alarming developments of modern war and peace, from the point of view of those who desire the survival of culture. One needs the enemy... A country within which the divisions have goon too far is a danger to itself: a country which is too well united - whether by nature or by device, by hounest purpose or by fraud and oppression - is a menace to others."
React to this quote
More by T. S. Eliot
See allResonant Thoughts
"The Historical Christ, or Jesus the Healer and Teacher. The thread of the life-story of Jesus is one which may be disentangled from those with which it is intertwined without any great difficulty. We …"
Explore Further
Related Quotes
"We had to fight the Okies because we were Mexicans! It didn’t matter to them that my brother and I were out…"
— Oscar Zeta Acosta"5235. To strain at a Knat, and swallow a Camel."
— Thomas Fuller (writer)"That would have made Quintilian stare and gasp."
— John Milton"Individuality is a cultural achievement rather than a gift of nature. During the 19th century it was rather…"
— Everett Dean Martin"The ships have come up the river to their station again, a little below their lines. Several deserters from…"
— Nathanael Greene"You could argue people are generally better off now mentally than they were back then. We follow the natura…"
— James Howard Kunstler