Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin: Enemies are often more useful than our friends

Enemies are often more useful than our friends

"It is nice to have some friends, but we must admit that enemies are also very helpful. Yes, if you study the question closely, you will understand that your enemies are actually your real friends, since they are merciless, they will spare you nothing and emphasize everything that goes wrong. You will say, 'Often they do exaggerate!' Yes it is true, but that does not matter, they act as microscopes, which are sometimes very useful; every day scientists use microscopes, and this allows them to see details that would otherwise go unnoticed.

Therefore if you really want to improve yourself, instead of bearing a grudge against your enemies, you must acknowledge the help they give you. It is they who force you to work, mend your ways, find solutions to the problems they raise and, thanks to them, you thus become wiser and stronger."

"It is a tradition to raise monuments and statues to the men and women who have contributed wonderful things to a society, to a culture or even to humanity as a whole. It is right to do so, of course, and I am not suggesting that we should not honour them. Nevertheless, I believe it is to our enemies that we should erect the most beautiful monuments and statues. Of course! They are our true benefactors, thanks to whom we are forced to become more vigilant, more intelligent and more patient. Do you think I’m joking? Well, think what you like, but all the same, try to reflect a little on this idea: our friends often put us to sleep, whereas our enemies upset and stimulate us. You will say: ‘But they make our life impossible!’ In fact, if you possess a high ideal and the sincere desire to advance, you will receive all the knowledge and strength necessary to make use of every obstacle your enemies put on your path. These obstacles are like rungs of a ladder which allow you to climb higher and higher."

"Even if those who preach Christianity strive to remember the precept given by Jesus: 'Love your enemies', in reality there are very few people capable of applying it. The majority do not even know how to love their friends, so how can they love their enemies? It is so difficult! In order to succeed in doing so, we must link ourselves with a being who manifests this commandment fully: the sun. Watch, and you will see that however human beings behave, the sun continues to send them its light and warmth, to nourish and vivify them.

If you want to understand the highest moral code, you will find it in the sun, and only there. And since the sun represents the spirit within you, when looking at it, force yourself to rise to those regions within you where you feel that nothing can touch you. Because it is only from here that, whatever happens to you, you can continue to send out your light and your love."

"Shooting an enemy with a revolver or pouring a few drops of poison into their glass, placing explosives or turning on the gas to blow up their house – that’s easy. There’s nothing to be proud of or boast about in that sort of victory.

True victory does not mean annihilating enemies. True victory means successfully turning enemies into friends. Be very clear about that. For then, instead of being surrounded by people who seek only to harm you, you’ll be surrounded by those whose only thought is to help you. It’s difficult, of course; not only does it require great work on yourself, which is the first difficulty, but then there is the even greater difficulty, the work you have to do on the other person to convince them you could be friends. But if you gain this kind of victory, it proves you live in the truth."

"This is something you ought to know: no matter who you are or what you do, you will be subjected to trials. So, rather than being surprised every time, as if it were news to you, and making everybody else, the Lord included, responsible for your difficulties, you need to reflect, to meditate, and you will understand the positive aspect of your trials.

Many qualities cannot be developed if you haven't gone through a certain amount of suffering, if you haven't experienced failure, illness or even the enmity of other human beings. Yes, this is why I'll say to you that often our enemies are friends in disguise, because they oblige us to strive and progress. Jesus said, 'Love your enemies,' and many people find this commandment not only impossible to achieve but absurd: how can we love people who hurt us? It's impossible! But it is possible, when we discover they are friends in disguise and that providence has sent them to oblige us to make progress on the path towards mastery and freedom."

"Even if those who preach Christianity strive to remember the precept given by Jesus: 'Love your enemies', in reality there are very few people capable of applying it. The majority do not even know how to love their friends, so how can they love their enemies? It is so difficult! In order to succeed in doing so, we must link ourselves with a being who manifests this commandment fully: the sun. Watch, and you will see that however human beings behave, the sun continues to send them its light and warmth, to nourish and vivify them.

No one likes to have enemies, of course, but if you want to defend yourself, try to find something in them that you can love a little. Hating them creates tears in your aura, and through these tears, you make contact with everything that is negative in them. You are vulnerable to these harmful elements which, once they have gained entry, begin to destroy you. It is for this reason that Jesus said: ‘Love your enemies.’ He knew these great laws; he knew that hatred makes us vulnerable. If we are to defend ourselves we must enter the impenetrable fortress of divine love, for love is the greatest protection against our enemies. To love our enemies is one of the most difficult challenges there is, but it is the only effective weapon.

[link to godlike.com (secure)]