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About this quote

What does it mean?
Enmity is defined by danger to life rather than political allegiance.
In plain terms
Anyone trying to kill you is the enemy.
What can you take from it?
Survival overrides ideological loyalty.

Where it applies

  • combat zones
  • political strife

Putting it to work

  • prioritize safety
  • reassess loyalties

Questions to consider

  • Who is your enemy?
  • Why do you fight?

Another view

It ignores political reasons for conflict.

More from Joseph Heller

  1. Clevinger was dead. That was the basic flaw in his philosophy.

    Permalink to quote #6
  2. He had decided to live forever or die in the attempt, and his only mission each time he went up was to come down alive.

    Permalink to quote #8
  3. 'Open your eyes, Clevinger. It doesn't make a damned bit of difference who wins the war to someone who's dead.'

    Permalink to quote #5

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