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About this quote

What does it mean?
Showing love to an enemy confuses and intimidates them more than hostility.
In plain terms
Being nice to your enemy scares them because they expect a fight.
What can you take from it?
Use kindness as a defense.

Where it applies

  • conflict resolution
  • personal safety
  • negotiation

Putting it to work

  • disarm with kindness
  • break cycles of hate

Questions to consider

  • Can kindness defeat aggression?
  • What happens when you forgive?

Another view

Enemies may not be deterred by love and could take advantage of it.

More from Mark Twain

  1. Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear, and the blind can read.

    Permalink to quote #178
  2. The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read them.

    Permalink to quote #180
  3. Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.

    Permalink to quote #177

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  3. Enemies are so stimulating.

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