In the moment when I truly understand my enemy, understand him well enough to defeat him, then in that very moment I also love him. I think it's impossible to really understand somebody, what they want, what they believe, and not love them the way they love themselves. And then, in that very moment when I love them.... I destroy them. I make it impossible for them to ever hurt me again. I grind them and grind them until they don't exist.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- He argues that true understanding of an enemy leads to love, which then compels him to destroy them to prevent future harm.
- In plain terms
- Knowing someone so well makes you love them, but that love makes you want to stop them forever.
- What can you take from it?
- Deep empathy can justify extreme actions to prevent harm.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Can you love someone and destroy them?
- Is understanding enough to justify killing?
Another view
This logic conflates love with domination and erases nuance.
More from Orson Scott Card
I'm very good at that. Understanding what other people think.
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