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About this quote

What does it mean?
Johnson argues it is better to have critics inside your group than outside attacking you.
In plain terms
Keep critics inside the group rather than letting them fight from outside.
What can you take from it?
Internal dissent is often better than external opposition.

Where it applies

  • political organizing
  • leadership
  • negotiation

Putting it to work

  • bring critics on board
  • manage internal conflicts

Questions to consider

  • Is it safer to manage enemies inside or outside?
  • When is compromise a strength or weakness?

Another view

This ignores the risk of internal disloyalty.

More from Lyndon Johnson

  1. We know that most people's intentions are good. We don't question their motives, we've never said they're unpatriotic. Although they say some pretty ugly thing…

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  2. I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your President.

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  3. I do not find it easy to send the flower of our youth, our finest young men, into battle.

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